(October 26, 2017) Okay, this is one election we can all agree on. The time is coming again for the 2017 SoulTracks Readers’ Choice Awards, the biggest awards in the world dedicated to independent soul music. We’ve gathered all the suggestions from readers and our industry friends and have chosen a fantastic group of finalists — superb artists who represent all that is great about Soul Music in 2017. To be nominated, an artist must have released music (or had the music reach its commercial peak) between October 1, 2016 and September 30, 2017. And all nominees must have released their music independently (i.e., not on one of the three major labels).
To make sure the results are accurate and fair, all voting is by individual ballots. Voting ballots will be sent out to all SoulTracks email subscribers on Friday, November 3, 2017. If you’re already a SoulTracks email subscriber, you’re all set. If you’re not, you can sign up at the top of this page before that date. It’s free and we will never share your email address with anyone else.
Congratulations to all of the artists. Share this with your friends using #SoulTracks2017
And here are the nominees for this year:
Album of the Year
Avery Sunshine – Twenty Sixty Four
Aaron Abernathy – Monologue
Cecile McLorin Salvant – Dreams and Daggers
Eric Roberson – Wind
James Day – Song, Soul & Spirit
Najee – Poetry in Motion
PJ Morton – Gumbo
Raul Midon – Bad Ass and Blind
Stephen Emmer – Home Ground
Stokley – Introducing Stokley
Tamar Braxton – Bluebird of Happiness
The Baylor Project – The Journey
The Crossrhodes – Footprints on the Moon
The Foreign Exchange – Hide & Seek
The PLAYlist – Chasin’ Goosebumps
Song of the Year
“A Beautiful Forever” – Raymond Barton feat. Kia Bennett
“All I Need Is Love” – Tim Bowman feat. Stokley
“Be With You” – Coriology
“Beauty of Life” – Pirahnahead & Diviniti feat. Carmen Rodgers
“Claire” – Eric Roberson
“Diamond Inside” – Gordon Chambers
“Is It The Way” – Najee feat. Eric Roberson
“Jesus Children of America” – Sheila E
“Jump” – Avery Sunshine
“Late Night & Heartbreaks” – Hannah Williams and the Affirmations
“Love Is a Battlefield” – Maysa
“Push” – Kenny Lattimore
“Show You The Way” – Thundercat feat. Michael McDonald and Kenny Loggins
“Soul Provider” – Danny Kean
“What Would I Do” – Lizz Wright
Female Vocalist of the Year
Alfa Anderson
Avery Sunshine
Candace Bellamy
Carmen Lundy
CeCe Winans
Cecile McLorin Salvant
Emily Estefan
Goapele
Irene Renee
Latrese Bush
Lindsey Webster
Lizz Wright
Macy Gray
Maysa
Tracy Cruz
Male Vocalist of the Year
Brian McKnight
Brian Owens
Daniel Caesar
Darien Dean
Eric Roberson
Gabriel Garzon-Montano
Heston
Kenny Lattimore
Phil Perry
PJ Morton
Raul Midon
Ronald Bruner Jr.
Stokley
Tom Misch
Will Downing
Duo or Group of the Year
Big Band Splash
Chops N Soul
Force MDs
Incognito
Living Colour
Moonchild
NxWorries
Rohey
SOS Band
Soul Understated
Southern Avenue
The Crossrhodes
The Foreign Exchange
The Hamiltones
Water Seed
New Artist of the Year
Annale
Binky Womack
Blez
Coriology
Emily Estefan
Jazzmeia Horn
Jazzy D
Latoya Cooper
Lovell
Madison McFerrin
October London
Porcelan
Southern Avenue
Terry Harris
The Baylor Project
Lifetime Achievement Award
TO BE ANNOUNCED!
