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 Me
R.Kelly – R.Kelly
SWV – New Beginning
Outkast – ATLiens
Fugees - The Score
Best R&B/Soul Album – Male
Tony Rich – Words
Montell Jordan – More... Babyface – The Day Maxwell – Maxwell's Urban Hang Suite
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
Outkast – "Elevators (Me & You)" Fugees – "Ready or Not" LL Cool J – "Doin' It" Busta Rhymes – "Woo Hah!! Got You All in Check" 2Pac - How Do U Want It ( featuring K-Ci and JoJo )
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"