LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD – This award goes to LIVING solo artists, groups or duos (with at least ONE LIVING original member) who have distinguished themselves through consistent work in the soul music field at any time between 1960 and 1995.

ARETHA FRANKLIN * STEVIE WONDER * DIANA ROSS * DIONNE WARWICK * THE ISLEY BROTHERS * GLADYS KNIGHT & THE PIPS * NANCY WILSON * PATTI LaBELLE * THE SUPREMES * ROBERTA FLACK * THE DELLS * THE TEMPTATIONS * THE O’JAYS * TINA TURNER * QUINCY JONES * THE FOUR TOPS * THE MIRACLES * CHAKA KHAN * PRINCE * CHARLIE WILSON * THE IMPRESSIONS * ANITA BAKER * BETTY WRIGHT * LIONEL RICHIE * SMOKEY ROBINSON * VALERIE SIMPSON * PATTI AUSTIN * MARTHA REEVES * THE SPINNERS * STEPHANIE MILLS * THE EMOTIONS * THE STYLISTICS * MARY WILSON * PEABO BRYSON * THE POINTER SISTERS * GLORIA GAYNOR * GEORGE BENSON * LAMONT DOZIER * JANET JACKSON * CHIC * THE ISLEY BROTHERS * MILLIE JACKSON * CANDI STATON * BOOKER T. JONES * THE THREE DEGREES * DENIECE WILLIAMS * EARTH, WIND & FIRE * EVELYN “CHAMPAGNE” KING * MAZE FEATURING FRANKIE BEVERLY * FREDA PAYNE * LARRY GRAHAM * ROY AYERS * GRACE JONES

Defined as a recording artist/group or duo in the R&B/soul music field – either living or deceased – who enjoyed their greatest U.S. chart success at any time between 1960-1979.

JERRY BUTLER * MILLIE JACKSON * ESTHER PHILLIPS * THE FOUR TOPS * THE IMPRESSIONS * THE SPINNERS * OTIS REDDING * THE STAPLE SINGERS * BARRY WHITE * BROOK BENTON * LINDA CLIFFORD *JACKIE MOORE * MARTHA REEVES & THE VANDELLAS * SLY & THE FAMILY STONE * LITTLE ANTHONY & THE IMPERIALS * THE SHIRELLES * THELMA HOUSTON * BARBARA MASON * BRENDA HOLLOWAY * WILLIAM BELL * FREDA PAYNE * LOVE UNLIMITED * THE SWEET INSPIRATIONS * DEE DEE WARWICK * CARLA THOMAS * ERMA FRANKLIN * LINDA JONES * EDDIE FLOYD * AARON NEVILLE * SYREETA * HANK BALLARD * JOHNNY NASH * LUTHER INGRAM * HAROLD MELVIN & THE BLUENOTES * THELMA JONES * PEACHES & HERB * BILLY STEWART * KING CURTIS * BARBARA LYNN * BARBARA LEWIS * IRMA THOMAS * JOHNNY “GUITAR” WATSON * ANN PEEBLES * BILLY PAUL * THE CHI-LITES * THE EMOTIONS * JUDY CLAY * CHAIRMEN OF THE BOARD * SAM & DAVE * THE INTRUDERS * LENNY WILLIAMS * SHIRLEY BROWN

This award goes only to solo artists who are deceased (at the time of this poll’s nomination) and who recorded consistently in the soul music field during their career.

PHYLLIS HYMAN * LUTHER VANDROSS * MARVIN GAYE * CURTIS MAYFIELD * DONNY HATHAWAY * MINNIE RIPERTON * RAY CHARLES * TEDDY PENDERGRASS * TEENA MARIE * WHITNEY HOUSTON * ETTA JAMES * DONNA SUMMER * SAM COOKE * MICHAEL JACKSON * BOBBY WOMACK * NINA SIMONE * ISAAC HAYES * JACKIE WILSON * NATALIE COLE * EDDIE KENDRICKS * MAURICE WHITE * LOU RAWLS * GEORGE DUKE * KASHIF * MARY WELLS * RICK JAMES * TAMMI TERRELL * JOHNNIE TAYLOR * WILSON PICKETT * BILLY PRESTON * AL JARREAU * BEN E.KING * VESTA (WILLIAMS) * JAMES INGRAM * SYREETA * SOLOMON BURKE * DAVID RUFFIN * PRINCE * BILL WITHERS * NANCY WILSON * BARRY WHITE * GROVER WASHINGTON JR. * JAMES BROWN * B.B. KING * PERCY SLEDGE * BILLY PAUL * GERALD LEVERT * MARY WILSON * SYLVESTER * FLORENCE BALLARD * TYRONE DAVIS * BOBBY “BLUE” BLAND * BILLY STEWART

CONTEMPORARY SOUL ARTIST, GROUP or DUO – Defined as an artist (male or female), group or duo who has recorded at any time since 1995.

ERIC BENET * MINT CONDITION * LALAH HATHAWAY * JILL SCOTT * CHANTE MOORE * RAPHAEL SAADIQ * MAYSA * KENNY LATTIMORE * MAXWELL * RAHSAAN PATTERSON * MARY J. BLIGE * R. KELLY * EN VOGUE * BOYZ II MEN * ERYKAH BADU * BRIAN McKNIGHT * ANGIE STONE * LAURYN HILL * INCOGNITO * ANN NESBY * ANTHONY HAMILTON * SOUNDS OF BLACKNESS * SANDRA ST. VICTOR * PHARRELL WILLIAMS * MARY MARY * FAITH EVANS * LEDISI * BRAND NEW HEAVIES * FANTASIA * KELLY PRICE * THE ROOTS * COMMON * LEELA JAMES *AVERY SUNSHINE * JOE * FRANK OCEAN * JAHEIM * JENNIFER HUDSON * D’ANGELO * TYRESE * BRANDY * DONELL JONES * H.E.R. * LISA SIMONE * JOHN LEGEND * USHER * INDIA.ARIE * NE-YO * THE WEEKND * CHRIS BROWN * P!NK * JANELLE MONAE * STOKLEY

FEMALE ARTIST – defined as an artist who first began making solo recordings in the soul music field at any time between 1970-1995.

ARETHA FRANKLIN * CHAKA KHAN * DIONNE WARWICK * STEPHANIE MILLS * PATTI AUSTIN * NATALIE COLE * MARLENA SHAW * ANITA BAKER * DENIECE WILLIAMS * BETTY WRIGHT * GLADYS KNIGHT * BETTYE LAVETTE * MAVIS STAPLES * EVELYN CHAMPAGNE KING * MELBA MOORE * CANDI STATON * JEAN CARNE * REGINA BELLE * ANGELA BOFILL * BRENDA RUSSELL * BRENDA HOLLOWAY * JODY WATLEY * CHERYL LYNN * MIKI HOWARD * MELI’SA MORGAN * VANESSA WILLIAMS * GWEN McCRAE * NANCY WILSON * MARGIE JOSEPH * FREDA PAYNE * SARAH DASH * TONI BRAXTON * DIANNE REEVES * SHIRLEY MURDOCK * KARYN WHITE * RACHELLE FERRELL * P.P. ARNOLD * ANGELA WINBUSH * KATHY SLEDGE * DEBORAH COX * JOCELYN BROWN * SHIRLEY JONES * ANN NESBY * ALYSON WILLIAMS * JENNIFER HOLLIDAY * STACY LATTISLAW * RANDY CRAWFORD * BRANDY * MARTHA WASH * VALERIE SIMPSON * JENNIFER HUDSON * CECE PENISTON * ROBERTA FLACK * PHYLLIS HYMAN

MALE ARTIST – defined as an artist who first began making solo recordings in the soul music field at any time between 1970-1995.

AL GREEN * AL JARREAU * SMOKEY ROBINSON * PEABO BRYSON * JEFFREY OSBORNE * BOBBY WOMACK * WILL DOWNING * BILL WITHERS * LIONEL RICHIE * FREDDIE JACKSON * BABYFACE * GENE CHANDLER * AARON NEVILLE * GEORGE BENSON * PHILIP BAILEY * DENNIS EDWARDS * LENNY WILLIAMS * HOWARD HEWETT * JAMES INGRAM * ALEXANDER O’NEAL * BILLY PAUL * LAMONT DOZIER * GLENN JONES * EL DEBARGE * LEON WARE * CHUCK JACKSON * JERMAINE JACKSON * PHIL PERRY * GERALD ALSTON * MICHAEL HENDERSON * RON ISLEY * BILLY GRIFFIN * JONATHAN BUTLER * ANTHONY HAMILTON * KEITH WASHINGTON * JOHN LEGEND * BRIAN MCKNIGHT * BILLY OCEAN * USHER * KEITH SWEAT * MAXWELL * LEROY HUTSON * TEVIN CAMPBELL * KEM * MUSIQ SOULCHILD * LARRY GRAHAM * JOHNNY GILL * GINUWINE * CHRIS JASPER * WILLIAM BELL * TEDDY PENDERGRASS * SANANDA MAITREYA (f.k.a. TERENCE TRENT D’ARBY) * BOBBY BROWN

GROUP/DUO (with at least one LIVING original member) – defined as a group or duo that first began recording in the soul music field between 1970-1995. Note: Duos are defined as established as such, not for a one-time collaboration – Peaches & Herb, Billy Davis & Marilyn McCoo, Nick Ashford & Valerie Simpson are examples of defined duos.

EARTH WIND & FIRE * THE WHISPERS * THE TEMPTATIONS * MAZE FEATURING FRANKIE BEVERLY * THE COMMODORES * THE O’JAYS * THE EMOTIONS * MIDNIGHT STAR * THE STYLISTICS * THE SPINNERS * THE POINTER SISTERS * THE MANHATTANS * KOOL & THE GANG * PARLIAMENT-FUNKADELIC * THE CHI-LITES * THE GAP BAND * THE STAPLE SINGERS * CAMEO * THE MARVELETTES * OHIO PLAYERS * WAR * SISTER SLEDGE * MARTHA REEVES & THE VANDELLAS * THE THREE DEGREES * SHALAMAR * TAVARES * MAIN INGREDIENT *THE JONES GIRLS * THE FOUR TOPS * THE POINTER SISTERS * THE DELLS * LITTLE ANTHONY & THE IMPERIALS * AVERAGE WHITE BAND (AWB) * BLUE MAGIC * THE BAR-KAYS * THE S.O.S. BAND * EN VOGUE * NEW EDITION * TAKE 6 * THE DRAMATICS * SWV * LABELLE * SLY & THE FAMILY STONE * HONEY CONE * LAKESIDE * SADE * ATLANTIC STARR * HEATWAVE * BOYZ II MEN * THE TIME * STANLEY CLARKE & GEORGE DUKE * JODECI

MUSICIAN/INSTRUMENTALIST or INSTRUMENTAL GROUP – Defined as primarily an instrumentalist who has recorded as a soloist,or a main or featured player or primarily an instrumental group who has recorded consistently in the soul music field at any time between 1960 and the present day.

HARVEY MASON * GEORGE DUKE * GEORGE BENSON * JOE SAMPLE * RAMSEY LEWIS * ROY AYERS * MARCUS MILLER * BOOKER T. JONES * PATRICE RUSHEN * NAJEE * HERBIE HANCOCK * JR. WALKER * BILLY PRESTON * KENNY G * RAY PARKER JR. * LARRY GRAHAM * STANLEY CLARKE * RONNIE LAWS * GERALD ALBRIGHT * EARL KLUGH * VERDINE WHITE * DAVID SANBORN * JIMMY SMITH * BOBBY ELI * LONNIE LISTON-SMITH * BOBBI HUMPHREY * NORMAN CONNORS * KIRK WHALUM * MARCUS ANDERSON * BOOTSY COLLINS * JONATHAN BUTLER * BONEY JAMES * MACEO PARKER * MICHAEL HENDERSON * BERNARD ‘PRETTY’ PURDIE * CHUCK RAINEY * STIX HOOPER * PIECES OF A DREAM * BOB JAMES * FOURPLAY * TIMMY THOMAS * THE CRUSADERS * RAY CHEW * OMAR HAKIM * ERIC GALE * AL MCKAY * WAYNE HENDERSON * GREG PHILLINGANES * CORNELL DUPREE * LARRY DUNN * PAULINHO DA COSTA * NATHAN EAST * REGGIE LUCAS * PAUL JACKSON JR.