Janet Jackson releases album "Control" 1986

Janet Jackson released her third solo album Control, February 4, 1986, a collaboration with Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. It was her first album to top the Billboard 200 charts and generated seven singles, five of which peaked within the top 5 of the Billboard Hot 100 singles.

Control won a Grammy for Producer of the Year, Non-Classical for Jam and Lewis in 1987. It was nominated for Album of the Year, as well.  Jackson was nominated for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance.  What Have you Done for Me Lately was nominated for Best R&B Song.

Control received twelve nominations from the American Music Awards, a record-breaking, and won four of them.  She won three Soul Train Music Awards and six Billboard Music Awards.

The Recording Industry Association of America certified Control as gold in April 1986. In June, it was certified platinum.  In 1989, it was certified 5x platinum in October.  It has sol over 10M copies world wide.

Billy Joel's "Glass Houses" wins American Music Award 1981

Billy Joel's album Glass Houses won Favorite Pop/Rock Album at the 8th American Music Awards, held on January 30, 1981.  He was nominated for Favorite Pop/Rock Male Artist but lost to Kenny Rogers, who pretty much swept all the country categories.

Janet Jackson releases "Miss You Much" 1989

Miss Janet released Miss You Much, the first single from her iconic and legendary album Rhythm Nation 1814 August 21, 1989.  It became her second top #1 in her career and spent four weeks at the top of the Billboard Hot 100 chart, being the longest running #1 in 1989. 

It was nominated for two Grammy Awards and won the Billboard Award for Top Hot 100 Single of the Year.  It also won American Music Awards for Favorite Dance Single and Favorite R&B Single.  It has been certified platinum. 

Celebrating Black History Month: 1st American Music Awards, African-American artists win big, 1974

The first annual American Music Awards was held on February 19, 1974 and produced by Dick Clark Productions.  African-American artists won big, winning at least one award in each of three categories, and sweeping the Soul/R&B category.

Stevie Wonder won two awards: Favorite Soul/R&B Male Artist and Favorite Soul/R&B Song for Superstition.

Charley Pride also won two awards: Favorite Country Male Artist, and Favorite Country Album, A Sunshiny Day with Charley Pride.

Roberta Flack won for Favorite Soul/R&B Female Artist

The Temptations won Favorite Soul/R&B Band/Duo/Group

Al Green won Favorite Soul/R&B Album for I'm Still In Love With You.

Diana Ross won Favorite Pop/Rock Album for Lady Sings the Blues.

The Pointer Sisters win 3rd American Music Award 1986

My girls, Ruth, Anita, and June, won their third American Music Award at the annual ceremony January 27, 1986.  They took home the award for Favorite Soul/R&B Band/Duo Group Video Artist.

The same evening Pat Benatar won the Favorite Pop/Rock Female Video Artist, her third AMA as well.

Alabama won their fourth and fifth AMAs that night for Favorite Country Band/Duo/Group and for Favorite Country Album for 40-Hour Week.

Pat Benatar wins American Music Award for Best Pop/Rock Female Artist 1982

My girl Pat Benatar won the American Music Award for Best Pop/Rock Female Artist at the 9th annual ceremony held January 25, 1982.  Her single Fire and Ice from her third album Precious Time helped her win the Grammy that year as well.  It would be the first of three AMAs for her.

Air Supply?  The Australian duo won Best Pop/Rock Band/Duo/Group beating The Pointer Sisters?  Give me a break.  They even beat AC/DC as well.  Something's fishy there. Hmmm....

At least, the Oak Ridge Boys won the country version of the award, beating Alabama and the Statler Brothers. 

Donna Summer 3 American Music Awards 1980

The Goddess of Disco (then Queen of Disco) Donna Summer won three American Music Awards at the 7th annual ceremony held January 18, 1980.  She walked away with Favorite Pop/Rock Female Artist (over Babs and ONJ), and Favorite Soul/R&B Female Artist.

She won Favorite Pop/Rock Song for Bad Girls, beating the one-hit wonder My Sharona by the Knack and Rod Stewart's Do Ya Think I'm Sexy?

Barry Manilow won Favorite Pop/Rock Male Artist beating my man Billy Joel.  I smell a conspiracy.  Michael Jackson won three awards as well, all in the Soul/R&B categories.  

The Bee Gees won 2 awards for Favorite Pop/Rock Band/Duo/Group and Favorite Pop/Rock album for Spirits Having Flown.  

The Statler Brothers won Favorite Country Band/Duo/Group.

Benny Goodman was honored with the Merit Award.

Def Leppard wins two American Music Awards 1989

Def Leppard won two American Music Awards at the 16th annual ceremony January 30, 1989.  They won for Favorite Heavy Metal/Hard Rock Artist.  Their album Hysteria won Favorite Heavy Metal/Hard Rock Album.

They were nominated for two more AMAs.  One for Favorite Pop/Rock Band/Duo/Group and Hysteria was nominated for Favorite Pop/Rock Album.

The Pointer Sisters win two American Music Awards 1985

My girls the Pointer Sisters won two American Music Awards at the 12th annual ceremony held January 28, 1985.  They won Favorite Soul/R&B Band/Duo/Group and for Favorite Soul/R&B Band/Duo/Group Video Artist.  The video of the ceremony shows the Pointer Sisters winning for Favorite Black Group, so maybe the record has been updated to remove racist overtones.  

Cyndi Lauper won two awards for Favorite Pop/Rock Female Artist and Favorite Pop/Rock Female Video Artist.  Darryl Hall & John Oates won for Favorite Pop/Rock Band/Duo/Group.  Alabama won for Favorite Country Band/Duo/Group.