1987 Soul Train Music Awards

Special awards

Heritage Award for Career Achievement

• Stevie Wonder

  Winners and nominees

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"