1987 Soul Train Music Awards

The 1987 Soul Train Music Awards aired live on March 23, 1987 (and was later syndicated in other areas), honoring the best in R&B, soul, rap, jazz, and gospel music from the previous year. The show was held at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium in Los Angeles, California and was hosted by Luther Vandross and Dionne Warwick.

• Stevie Wonder

Winners are in bold text.

• Luther Vandross – Give Me the Reason
  • Freddie Jackson – Rock Me Tonight
  • Billy Ocean – Love Zone
  • Stevie Wonder – In Square Circle

• Janet Jackson – Control
  • Anita Baker – Rapture
  • Whitney Houston – Whitney Houston
  • Patti LaBelle – Winner in You

• Cameo – Word Up!
  • Atlantic Starr – As the Band Turns
  • Kool & the Gang – Forever
  • Run–D.M.C. – Raising Hell

• Gregory Abbott – "Shake You Down"
  • Freddie Jackson – "Tasty Love"
  • Prince – "Kiss"
  • Luther Vandross – "Give Me the Reason"

• 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"

• Cameo – "Word Up"
  • Atlantic Starr – "Secret Lovers"
  • Timex Social Club – "Rumors"
  • Dionne Warrick and Friends – "That's What Friends Are For"

• Run–D.M.C. – "Walk This Way"
  • Joeski Love – "Peewee's Dance"
  • Timex Social Club – "Rumors"
  • Whodini – "One Love"

• Janet Jackson – "What Have You Done for Me Lately"
  • Anita Baker – "Sweet Love"
  • Cameo – "Word Up"
  • Peter Gabriel – "Sledgehammer"

• Gregory Abbott
  • Club Nouveau
  • The Jets
  • Shirley Murdock

• Run–D.M.C. – Raising Hell
  • Fat Boys – Fat Boys Are Back
  • LL Cool J – Radio
  • Whodini – Back in Black

• Al Green – He Is the Light
  • Shirley Caesar – Celebration
  • Andraé Crouch – Autograph
  • Tramaine – The Search Is Over

• 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

• George Howard – Love Will Follow
  • Miles Davis – Tutu
  • Kenny G – Duotones
  • Sade – Promise

• Bob James and David Sanborn – Double Vision
  • Spyro Gyra – Breakout
  • Hiroshima – Another Place
  • The Yellowjackets – Shades

• 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"