Badu Nominated Five Times for 1997 Soul Train Award

LOS ANGELES, July 24 /PRNewswire/ via Individual Inc. -- Immensely hot Kedar Records discovery Erykah Badu has collected a record-setting five nominations to lead the field of nominees vying in nine categories for the 1997 Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards.

The nominations were announced today by music legend Chaka Khan and "MTV Jams" host and comedian/actor Bill Bellamy at a press brunch held at the Nikko Hotel in Beverly Hills.

The alluring singer and composer/producer rode her "Baduizm" CD, which is closing in on two million units sold, to a Best R&B/Soul Album, Solo Nomination, while her hit single "On & On," nabbed three solo nominations including Best R&B/Soul Single, R&B/Soul Song of the Year, and Best R&B/Soul or Rap New Artist. Badu's second single "Next Lifetime," was nominated for Best R&B/Soul or Rap Music Video.

Badu, also revered for her trademark Afrocentric look, is also one of three celebrity co-hosts of this year's Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards, along with Chaka Khan and Bill Bellamy. The two-hour prime-time special will be televised from the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium on Friday, September 5, 1997.

The Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards, is an annual celebration of the accomplishments of women recording artists in the field of Soul music, including R&B, Hip-Hop, Rap, Jazz and Gospel, will also feature special presentations to multi-media superstars Janet Jackson and Queen Latifah. Jackson will be honored with the Lena Horne Award for outstanding career achievements and Queen Latifah will receive the Aretha Franklin Award as "Entertainer of the Year."

Badu completely outdistanced all other 1997 nominees with sultry superstar Toni Braxton and talented Motown trio 702, not far behind as top runners-up with three nominations each. Braxton's album "Secrets," which has sold in excess of five million units, was nominated for Best R&B/Soul Album, Solo, and her number one hit single, "Un-Break My Heart," received nods for Best R&B/Soul Single, Solo and R&B/Soul Song of the Year.

702's debut LP "No Doubt," was nominated for Best R&B/Soul Album, Group, Band or Duo and Best R&B/Soul or Rap New Artist.

Teen sensation and Arista recording artist Monica, who tallied three Soul Train Lady of Soul nominations last year, added two more this year, matching up with SWV, En Vogue, and newcomers Foxy Brown Featuring Jay-Z and Lil' Kim Featuring Lil' Cease, who also earned two nominations each.

Monica's inspiring number one hit, "For You I Will," from the multi- platinum "Space Jam" soundtrack scored nominations for Best R&B/Soul Single, Solo and R&B/Soul Song of the Year.

Veteran superstars En Vogue, featured on the "Set It Off" movie soundtrack captured nominations for their single, "Don't Let Go (Love)," for Best R&B/Soul Single, Group, Band or Duo and R&B/Soul Single, Song of the Year. The "Set It Off" soundtrack scored a second nomination in the Best R&B Single, Group, Band or Duo category with "Missing You," performed by superstars Brandy, Gladys Knight, Chaka Khan and Tamia.

Additional artists with two nominations included SWV for Best R&B/Soul Album, Group, Band or Duo ("New Beginning") and for Best R&B/Soul Single, Group, Band or Duo ("Can We"); Foxy Brown Featuring Jay-Z, for Best R&B/Soul or Rap New Artist and Best R&B/Soul or Rap Music Video ("I'll Be"); Lil' Kim Featuring Lil' Cease, for Best R&B/Soul or Rap New Artist and Best R&B/Soul or Rap Music Video ("Crush On You").

Rounding out the list of nominations with single noms are Ann Nesby, Me'Shell Ndegeocello, The Braxtons, For Real, Aaliyah, MC Lyte, Betty Carter, Nnenna Freelon, Shirley Horn, Dianne Reeves, Yolanda Adams, Kurt Carr Singers, Lashun Pace and The William Sisters.

The top four vote-getters in nine categories were selected as nominees from over 2,300 ballots which were sent out nationally to recording artists, record retailers and radio programmers. The independent accounting firm of Price Waterhouse LLP tabulated all ballots and the one nominee in each category receiving the highest number of the first place votes will be acknowledged during the September 5th telecast and presented with the Soul Train Lady of Soul trophy.

The Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards is produced by Don Cornelius Productions, Inc., creators and producers of the Soul Train weekly series, the longest running of any program in first-run syndication history, the highly acclaimed annual Soul Train Music Awards and the Soul Train Christmas Starfest a new annual Christmas special set for launch in December '97.

Tribune Entertainment Company, distributors of the Soul Train weekly series, The Soul Train Music Awards, and the upcoming Soul Train Christmas Starfest, will distribute the Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards for the third consecutive year. Tribune Entertainment Company President Dick Askin commented, "We're delighted that we were able to play a role in making Soul Train's tribute to female recording artists a reality and this year's exciting line-up is a clear indicator that the Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards are here to Stay."

Cornelius will produce the special along with Coordinating Producer Katie Jones. Ron de Moraes will direct and George Duke will serve as musical director.