title: 1987 Soul Train Music Awards
text: # 1987 Soul Train Music Awards
  
  The 1987 Soul Train Music Awards aired live on March 23, 1987 (and was later syndicated in other areas), honoring the best in R&B, soul, rap, jazz, and gospel music from the previous year. The show was held at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium in Los Angeles, California and was hosted by Luther Vandross and Dionne Warwick.
  
  ## Special awards
  
  ### Heritage Award for Career Achievement
  
  * Stevie Wonder
  
  ## Winners and nominees
  
  Winners are in bold text.
  
  ### Album of the Year – Male
  
  * Luther Vandross – Give Me the Reason
     * Freddie Jackson – Rock Me Tonight
     * Billy Ocean – Love Zone
     * Stevie Wonder – In Square Circle
  
  ### Album of the Year – Female
  
  * Janet Jackson – Control
     * Anita Baker – Rapture
     * Whitney Houston – Whitney Houston
     * Patti LaBelle – Winner in You
  
  ### Album of the Year – Group, Duo, or Band
  
  * Cameo – Word Up!
     * Atlantic Starr – As the Band Turns
     * Kool & the Gang – Forever
     * Run–D.M.C. – Raising Hell
  
  ### Best Single – Male
  
  * Gregory Abbott – "Shake You Down"
     * Freddie Jackson – "Tasty Love"
     * Prince – "Kiss"
     * Luther Vandross – "Give Me the Reason"
  
  ### Best Single – Female
  
  * Anita Baker – "Sweet Love"
     * Whitney Houston – "The Greatest Love of All"
     * Janet Jackson – "What Have You Done for Me Lately"
     * Meli'sa Morgan – "Do Me Baby"
  
  ### Best Single – Group, Duo, or Band
  
  * Cameo – "Word Up"
     * Atlantic Starr – "Secret Lovers"
     * Timex Social Club – "Rumors"
     * Dionne Warrick and Friends – "That's What Friends Are For"
  
  ### Best Rap Single
  
  * Run–D.M.C. – "Walk This Way"
     * Joeski Love – "Peewee's Dance"
     * Timex Social Club – "Rumors"
     * Whodini – "One Love"
  
  ### Best Music Video
  
  * Janet Jackson – "What Have You Done for Me Lately"
     * Anita Baker – "Sweet Love"
     * Cameo – "Word Up"
     * Peter Gabriel – "Sledgehammer"
  
  ### Best New Artist
  
  * Gregory Abbott
     * Club Nouveau
     * The Jets
     * Shirley Murdock
  
  ### Best Rap Album
  
  * Run–D.M.C. – Raising Hell
     * Fat Boys – Fat Boys Are Back
     * LL Cool J – Radio
     * Whodini – Back in Black
  
  ### Best Gospel Album – Solo
  
  * Al Green – He Is the Light
     * Shirley Caesar – Celebration
     * Andraé Crouch – Autograph
     * Tramaine – The Search Is Over
  
  ### Best Gospel Album – Group, Duo, or Choir
  
  * The Winans – Let My People Go
     * Aretha Franklin with James Cleveland and the Southern California Community Choir – Amazing Grace
     * Various Artists – The Color Purple Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
     * The Williams Brothers – Blessed
  
  ### Best Jazz Album – Solo
  
  * George Howard – Love Will Follow
     * Miles Davis – Tutu
     * Kenny G – Duotones
     * Sade – Promise
  
  ### Best Jazz Album – Group, Duo, or Band
  
  * Bob James and David Sanborn – Double Vision
     * Spyro Gyra – Breakout
     * Hiroshima – Another Place
     * The Yellowjackets – Shades
  
  ## Performers
  
  * Cameo – "Word Up!"
  * LL Cool J – "I'm Bad"
  * Al Jarreau
  * Run–D.M.C. and Aerosmith – "Walk This Way"
  * Whitney Houston – "You Give Good Love"
  * George Benson
  * Luther Vandross – "So Amazing"
  * Bob James
  * Dionne Warwick and Luther Vandross – Medley: "My Cherie Amour" / "All is Fair in Love" / "You Are the Sunshine of My Life" / "I Just Called to Say I Love You"
  * Stevie Wonder – "I Can Only Be Me"
  * David Sanborn, Bob James, George Benson, and the George Duke Jazz Orchestra – "It's You"
  * Cissy Houston, Vanessa Bell Armstrong, Andrae Crouch, Sandra Crouch, Shirley Caesar, Tramaine Hawkins, Edwin Hawkins, The Williams Brothers and The Winans – "Mary Don't You Weep"
  * Carlos Vega
  * George Duke
  * Luther Vandross, Whitney Houston, Dionne Warwick and Stevie Wonder – "That's What Friends Are For"
  