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R. Kelly leads Soul Train Music Award nominees
02/02/2006 6:49 PM, Reuters
Dean Goodman
R&B singer R. Kelly, the soulful
crooner who let his libido loose in a passionate album, led
contenders for the 20th annual Soul Train Music Awards, which
honor the leading lights in the soul, R&B and hip-hop worlds,
organizers said on Thursday.
The Chicago-based singer, whose first name is Robert,
picked up three nominations for the event, which will be taped
on March 4 at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium. Highlights will
air in syndication from March 11 through March 19.
Unlike Michael Jackson, Kelly's career has barely been
affected by longstanding legal problems. In Illinois, he faces
a 14-count indictment charging him with child pornography based
on a videotape of him having sex with a person prosecutors
allege was underage. He faced similar charges in Florida, but
they were dropped on a legal technicality.
Nine acts received two nominations each: the Black Eyed
Peas, Mariah Carey, Keyshia Cole, John Legend, Missy Elliott,
Gwen Stefani, Bobby Valentino, Kanye West and Charlie Wilson.
Kelly was cited for best R&B/soul single (male), "Trapped
in the Closet (Chapter 1)," best R&B/soul album, male, "TP.3
Reloaded," and best music video, "Trapped in the Closet
(Chapter 1)."
His album, "TP.3 Reloaded," which debuted at No. 1 on the
U.S. pop charts last year, is crammed with steamy bedroom
tunes, and boasts the unusual five-part saga "Trapped in the
Closet," which revolves around a strange woman, her husband and
his gay lover.
Kelly will also receive the inaugural Stevie Wonder Award
for achievement in songwriting, which the Motown legend will
present.
Other special awards include the Quincy Jones Award for
career achievement, which will go to Jamie Foxx and Destiny's
Child, and the Sammy Davis, Jr. Entertainer of the Year award
to acclaimed newcomer John Legend.
The awards are organized by Don Cornelius, the creator of
the TV dance show "Soul Train," which has aired in syndication
since 1971.
Cornelius declined to identify any particular artists or
songs last year that caught his fancy, but said there were no
new releases that received heavy play on his CD player.
"The really, really good music that Marvin (Gaye) and Otis
Redding, and Lou (Rawls) and Luther (Vandross) and people like
that (made) is really going on upstairs," Cornelius told
Reuters. "I think the period of the '70s and '80s was the
period when the very best music of the soul category was made.
The very best."
Reuters/VNU
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