The Soul Train Music Awards is an annual music awards show which previously aired in national
broadcast syndication
Broadcast syndication is the practice of leasing the right to broadcasting television shows and radio programs to multiple television stations and radio stations, without going through a broadcast network. It is common in the United States where ...
, and honors the best in
African-American culture
African-American culture refers to the contributions of African Americans to the culture of the United States, either as part of or distinct from mainstream American culture. The culture is both distinct and enormously influential on Ame ...
, music and entertainment. It is produced by the makers of ''
Soul Train
''Soul Train'' is an American musical variety television show. It aired in syndication from October 2, 1971, to March 25, 2006. Across its 35-year history the show primarily featured performances by R&B, soul, and hip hop artists. The series w ...
'', the program from which it takes its name, and features musical performances by various
contemporary R&B and
soul music recording artists interspersed throughout the ceremonies. The special traditionally used to air in either February, March or April, but now airs the last weekend of November (in most years,
Thanksgiving weekend).
The Soul Train Music Awards voting body includes active professionals in the fields of radio programming and music retail and management and recording artists with records that have charted in designated music trade publications in the year prior to proceedings. Past hosts for the show include such R&B luminaries as
Luther Vandross
Luther Ronzoni Vandross Jr. (April 20, 1951 – July 1, 2005) was an American singer, songwriter, and record producer. Known for his sweet and soulful vocals, Vandross has sold over 40 million records worldwide. He achieved eleven consecutive P ...
,
Dionne Warwick
Marie Dionne Warwick (; born December 12, 1940) is an American singer, actress, and television host.
Warwick ranks among the 40 biggest U.S. hit makers between 1955 and 1999, based on her chart history on ''Billboards Hot 100 pop singles cha ...
,
Patti LaBelle
Patricia Louise Holte (born May 24, 1944), known professionally as Patti LaBelle, is an American R&B singer, actress and businesswoman.
LaBelle is referred to as the " Godmother of Soul".
She began her career in the early 1960s as lead singe ...
,
Will Smith,
Vanessa Williams,
Taraji P. Henson
Taraji Penda Henson ( ; born September 11, 1970) is an American actress. She studied acting at Howard University and began her Hollywood career in guest roles on several television shows before making her breakthrough in '' Baby Boy'' (2001). Sh ...
, and
Gladys Knight.
The Soul Train Music Award
trophy
A trophy is a tangible, durable reminder of a specific achievement, and serves as a recognition or evidence of merit. Trophies are often awarded for sporting events, from youth sports to professional level athletics. In many sports medals (or, in ...
has featured an African ceremonial mask since its 1987 introduction. A new trophy was designed by
Tristan Eaton of Thunderdog Studios in 2009 and is manufactured by New York firm
Society Awards. From 1995 to 2005 a separate award show named Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards was held, honoring female artists.
History
The 2008 ceremonies were not held due to several factors, including the
2007–08 Writers Guild of America strike
From November 5, 2007, to February 12, 2008, all 12,000 film and television screenwriters of the American labor unions Writers Guild of America, East (WGAE), and Writers Guild of America West (WGAW) went on strike.
The Writers Guild of America ...
, the ill health of
Don Cornelius at the time, and ''Soul Train'' distributor
Tribune Entertainment terminating operations in the wake of the sale of
Tribune Media to
Sam Zell. With the rights to ''Soul Train'' acquired by MadVision Entertainment, the Soul Train Music Awards were presented on November 24, 2009 on
BET Her. MadVision now holds the
rerun rights to ''Soul Train''.
The 2009 ceremony was held at the
Georgia World Congress Center in
Atlanta, marking the first time in the show's 22-year history it was held outside of the
Greater Los Angeles. The 2010 awards was held on November 10 just outside Atlanta at the
Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, and aired November 28. The 2011 show was once again held in Atlanta and aired November 27. The 2012 ceremony was held live on November 25 at
Planet Hollywood Las Vegas in
Las Vegas Valley,
Nevada. As of 2019,
Beyoncé
Beyoncé Giselle Knowles-Carter ( ; born September 4, 1981) is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. Beyoncé's boundary-pushing artistry and vocals have made her the most influential female musician of the 21st century, according to ...
is the most-awarded artist at the Soul Train Music Awards with 16 awards.
Ceremonies
Soul Cypher
In 2015, host
Erykah Badu added a new tradition to the award show, the Soul Cypher. Similar to a Hip-Hop
cypher
Cypher is an alternative spelling for cipher.
Cypher may also refer to:
Arts and entertainment
* Cypher (French Group), a Goa trance music group
* Cypher (band), an Australian instrumental band
* Cypher (film), ''Cypher'' (film), a 2002 film
* C ...
, it features a quartet of R&B/Soul/Gospel singers coming together to perform a freestyle. Accompanied by an instrumental beat and a live band, the artists deliver a freestyle arrangement by incorporating lyrics, hooks and/or titles from their popular hits.
A UK version of the Soul Cypher was introduced during the 2020 broadcast.
UK Soul Cypher
Trophy
The original trophy is a bronze abstract sitting figure known as the Vanguard in 1987. However, the trophy is an African mask which is known as the Heritage Award. Its distinctive design created by an unknown sculptor, but its remains a visual trademark for Soul Train's representation of Black music.
From 1989 to 2007, the Heritage mask remained the trophy for Soul Train Music Awards until 2009 when BET and its sister channel Centric revived the awards. Thunderdog designed a brand new trophy based on the program's mascot, an actual train.
Award categories
Main awards
*
Album of the Year Album of the Year, often abbreviated to AOTY, may refer to:
Awards
* ARIA Award for Album of the Year, Australia
* Brit Award for British Album of the Year, UK
* Grammy Award for Album of the Year, US
* Juno Award for Album of the Year, CA
* Lati ...
*
Video of the Year
*
Song of the Year Song of the Year may refer to:
* Country Music Association Award for Song of the Year
* Dove Award for Song of the Year
* Golden Melody Award for Song of the Year
* Grammis Song of the Year
* Grammy Award for Song of the Year
* Latin Grammy Awa ...
*
The Ashford & Simpson Songwriter's Award
*
Best New Artist
*
Rhythm & Bars Award
*
Best R&B/Soul Male Artist
*
Best R&B/Soul Female Artist
*
Best Dance Performance
*
Best Gospel/Inspirational Song
*
Best Collaboration
*
Centric Award
Special awards
*
Soul Train Music Award for Quincy Jones Award for Career Achievement
*
*
Soul Train Music Award for Sammy Davis Jr. - Entertainer of the Year
*
Artist of the Decade Award for Extraordinary Artistic Achievements
*
Soul Train Music Award for Stevie Wonder Award for Outstanding Achievement in Songwriting
Defunct award categories
*
Best Gospel Album
*
Best Gospel Album – Group or Band
*
Best Gospel Album – Solo
*
Best Jazz Album
*
Best Jazz Album – Group, Band or Duo
*
Best Jazz Album – Solo
*
Best Rap Single
*
Best Rap Album
*
Best R&B/Soul Album – Male
*
Best R&B/Soul Album – Female
*
Best R&B/Soul Album – Group, Band or Duo
*
Best R&B/Soul Single – Male
*
Best R&B/Soul Single – Female
*
Best R&B/Soul Single – Group, Band or Duo
*
The Sprite Award for Best R&B/Soul or Rap Dance Cut
Most Awarded Artists
References
External links
Soul Train Awards Official SiteSoul Train Official Site
{{musicawards
American music awards
Performing arts trophies
Awards established in 1987
Television series by Tribune Entertainment