1991 Soul Train Music Awards
The 1991 Soul Train Music Awards took place on March 16, 1991, at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, California. The show was hosted by Queen Latifah and featured performances by Patti LaBelle, Luther Vandross, and more.
Introduction
The Soul Train Music Awards is an annual music awards show which honors the best in Black music and entertainment. The show is produced by the creators of Soul Train, Don Cornelius and Dick Griffey. It is broadcast on BET and features performances by various artists, as well as awards in various categories.
Awards Ceremony
On March 8, 1991, the 1991 Soul Train Music Awards were held at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, California. The show was hosted by Arsenio Hall and featured performances by some of the biggest names in music. The awards ceremony was held to honor the best in black music and to celebrate the achievements of African American artists.
Entertainers
The Soul Train Music Awards is an annual award show which previously aired in national television syndication, and honors the best in Black music and entertainment. It is produced by the makers of Soul Train, the program from which it takes its name. The 1991 awards ceremony was held on March 1, 1991, at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium in Santa Monica, California, and was hosted by Sinbad. Whitney Houston was honored as the “Artist of the Decade”.
The Entertainers of the Year award was presented to Mary J. Blige and LL Cool J. Blige became the first woman to win the award. LL Cool J became the first rapper to win the award.
Performances
The 1991 Soul Train Music Awards featured some of the biggest names in soul and R&B music. The night’s performances included Michael Jackson, Janet Jackson, Boyz II Men, Whitney Houston, and more. The event was hosted by comedian Arsenio Hall and featured a special tribute to Quincy Jones.
Winners
The 1991 Soul Train Music Awards were held on March 16, 1991, at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, California. The show was hosted by Pebbles and was broadcast on Fox.
Winners
* Best R&B/Soul Album – Male: Luther Vandross – Power of Love
* Best R&B/Soul Album – Female: Mariah Carey – Mariah Carey
* Best R&B/Soul Album – Group, Band or Duo: New Edition – Home Again
* Best R&B/Soul Single – Male: Bobby Brown – “On Our Own”
* Best R&B/Soul Single – Female: Janet Jackson – “Love Will Never Do (Without You)”
* Best R&B/Soul Single – Group, Band or Duo: Bell Biv DeVoe – “Do Me!”
* The Michael Jackson Award for Best Dance Performance: Janet Jackson – “Rhythm Nation”
Aftermath
The 1991 Soul Train Music Awards was held on March 16, 1991, at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, California. The show was hosted by Arsenio Hall and featured performances by Bell Biv DeVoe, Bobby Brown, En Vogue, Heavy D & the Boyz, Huey Lewis and the News, Janet Jackson, Jody Watley, Johnny Gill, Kid ‘n Play, Kris Kross, Madonna, Mariah Carey, Mary J. Blige, Paula Abdul, R. Kelly, Ralph Tresvant, Right Said Fred, Bobby Brown, En Vogue, Heavy D & the Boyz, Huey Lewis and the News, Janet Jackson, Jody Watley, Johnny Gill, Kid ‘n Play, Kris Kross, Madonna, Mariah Carey, Mary J. Blige, Paula Abdul, R. Kelly, Ralph Tresvant, Right Said Fred.
Reception
The 1991 Soul Train Music Awards was held on March 16, 1991, at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, California. The show was hosted by Arsenio Hall and featured performances by Bobby Brown, En Vogue, Al B. Sure!, Bell Biv DeVoe, C+C Music Factory, Color Me Badd, IMx, Jodeci, Shiiteazeera Sinclair of Immature & Tony! Toni! Tone!, Leaders of the New School and Ralph Tresvant.
The awards ceremony was attended by several celebrities such as MC Hammer, Quincy Jones, Vanessa Williams, Damian Dame, Christopher “Kid” Reid and Christopher Williams. After the show aired on television, it received mixed reviews from television critics.
Criticism
The show was heavily criticized for awarding a “Best New Artist” prize to R&B group After 7. The group had already been together for six years at the time and had previously released two albums, so many felt that they did not qualify as “new artists”. Additionally, the award was presented to the group by entertainer Sammy Davis Jr., who had recently died, which many felt was in poor taste.
