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.

Soul Train Music Awards
Date	March 7, 1997 (1997-03-07)
Location	Shrine Auditorium (Los Angeles, California)
Country	United States
Hosted by	Gladys Knight, Brandy and LL Cool J
First awarded	1987
Most awards	Maxwell (3)
Website	soultrain.com
Television/radio coverage
Network	WGN America

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"