The 1997 Soul Train Music Awards was held at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, California on March 7, 1997. The show was hosted by Brandy, LL Cool J and Gladys Knight. ^{[1] [2]} It would be the final public appearance for the Notorious B.I.G., as he would be murdered two days after the ceremony.

Special awards

Quincy Jones Award for Outstanding Career Achievements

• Curtis Mayfield

Sammy Davis Jr. Award for Entertainer of the Year

• Babyface

Winners and nominees

Winners are in bold text.

R&B/Soul or Rap Album of the Year

• 2Pac – All Eyez On Me
  • Fugees - The Score
  • R. Kelly - R.Kelly
  • Outkast – ATLiens

Best R&B/Soul Album – Male

• Maxwell – Maxwell's Urban Hang Suite
  • Babyface – The Day
  • R. Kelly – R. Kelly
  • Keith Sweat – Keith Sweat

Best R&B/Soul Album – Female

• Toni Braxton – Secrets
  • Aaliyah – One in a Million
  • Monifah – Moods...Moments
  • Meshell Ndegeocello – Peace Beyond Passion

Best R&B/Soul Album – Group, Band, or Duo

• New Edition – Home Again
  • 112 – 112
  • The Isley Brothers – Mission to Please
  • Mint Condition – Definition of a Band

Best R&B/Soul Single – Male

• Maxwell – " Ascension (Don't Ever Wonder)"
  • D'Angelo – " Lady"
  • Joe – " All the Things (Your Man Won't Do)"
  • Keith Sweat – " Twisted"

Best R&B/Soul Single – Female

• Toni Braxton – " You're Makin' Me High" / "Let It Flow"
  • Mary J. Blige – " Not Gon' Cry"
  • Brandy – " Sittin' Up in My Room"
  • Monica – " Why I Love You So Much"

Best R&B/Soul Single – Group, Band, or Duo

• Blackstreet (featuring Dr. Dre and Queen Pen) – " No Diggity"
  • 112 - " Only You"
  • Az Yet – " Last Night"
  • Mint Condition – " What Kind of Man Would I Be?"

The Michael Jackson Award for Best R&B/Soul or Rap Music Video

• Bone Thugs-n-Harmony – " Tha Crossroads"
  • 2Pac - How Do U Want It ( featuring K-Ci and JoJo )
  • Busta Rhymes – " Woo Hah!! Got You All in Check"
  • LL Cool J – " Doin' It"

Best R&B/Soul or Rap New Artist

• Maxwell
  • 112
  • AZ Yet
  • Tony Rich

Best Jazz Album

• Herbie Hancock – The New Standard
  • Quincy Jones – Q's Jook Joint
  • Diana Krall – All for You: A Dedication to the Nat King Cole Trio
  • Art Porter – Lay Your Hands on Me

Best Gospel Album

• Kirk Franklin – Whatcha Lookin' 4
  • Rev. Clay Evans – I've Got a Testimony
  • Dottie Peoples – Count on God
  • The Williams Sisters – Live on the East Coast

Performances

• En Vogue – " Don't Let Go (Love)"
• Blackstreet and Queen Pen – " No Diggity"
• Mint Condition – " What Kind of Man Would I Be?"
• Maxwell – " Sumthin' Sumthin'"
• The Isley Brothers – "Tears"
• Keith Sweat – " Twisted"
• Gladys Knight
• SWV - " Someone"
• Fugees – " Killing Me Softly with His Song"
• Mary J. Blige & Nas – " Love Is All We Need"
• 702 – " Get It Together"

References