1997 Soul Train Music Awards
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. 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 MeBest 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 – "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
MaxwellBest 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"
- Curtis Mayfield Tribute:
- * Gladys Knight – "Something He Can Feel" / "The Makings of You" / "People Get Ready"
- Fugees – "Killing Me Softly with His Song" / "Ready or Not"
- Mary J. Blige and Nas – "Love Is All We Need"
Presenters
- Will Smith - Presented Sammy Davis Jr. Award For Entertainer of the Year
- Tisha Campbell, SWV, and Dru Hill - Presented Best R&B Soul/Rap New Artist
- Warren G, Salli Richardson, and Alfonzo Hunter - Presented Best Jazz Album
- Brian McKnight, The Notorious B.I.G, Puff Daddy, and 112 - Presented Best R&B Soul Single Female
- Michelle Thomas, Aaliyah, Outkast, and Ray J. - Presented Best R&B Soul Single Male
- Snoop Doggy Dogg, Immature, and Tamia - Presented Michael Jackson Award For Best R&B Soul/Rap Music Video
- Bone Thugs-n-Harmony, and Brownstone - Presented Best Gospel Album
- Quincy Jones - Presented Quincy Jones Award Outstanding For Career Achievements
- Monica, AZ Yet, and Kenny Lattimore - Presented R&B Soul Album Group, Band, or Duo
- Robert Townsend, Busta Rhymes, and 702 - Presented Best R&B Soul Album Male
- Da Brat, Deborah Cox, and Tony Rich - Presented Best R&B Soul Album Female
- Heavy D, Monifah, and Zhane - Presented Best R&B Soul/Rap Album of the Year
- New Edition, Shari Headley, and Montell Jordan - Presented Best R&B Soul Single Group, Band, or Duo