SOUL ON SOUL: Tired of the Grammys?...

SOUL ON SOUL: Tired of the Grammys? Are the American Music Awards too glitzy for you? Next year you’ll have a new show to choose from--”The First Annual Soul Train Music Awards.” The event will be held March 24, then broadcast as a two-hour TV special in April through the Tribune Entertainment syndication network (which already handles Cornelius’ long-running dance show, “Soul Train”). “It’s not going to look like the Grammys and it’s not going to walk like the American Music Awards,” said Cornelius, who needless to say is heading up the project. “It’ll walk like we walk. Black music has reached a level of acceptance and popularity that’s probably higher than ever before and I think it’s worthy of recognition and celebration.”

Cornelius insisted that the program is not meant as an “reaction” to the sometimes paltry coverage that black music gets in mainstream awards shows. “Sure, there has been grumbling--some years more than others--with the way R&B; has been handled on the Grammys and other shows,” he said. “But this isn’t a criticism of certain omissions in current shows. It’s meant as an affirmative celebration.”

So far the show’s lineup includes co-hosts Dionne Warwick and Luther Vandross, with Patti LaBelle and Al Jarreau due to appear as featured performers. (Emmy-winning producer-director Steve Binder will direct the broadcast, while George Duke will serve as musical director.) Who’ll pick the winners? According to Cornelius, ballots will go out to artists and record producers who were on the charts during the past year, radio program directors and retail store staff.

If Cornelius is worried about attracting top-caliber black artists to perform on the program, he isn’t letting on. “I don’t think we have to have all the big names in black music--in other words, our ideas of the biggest names might be Janet Jackson, Anita Baker and Cameo, not Lionel Richie and Michael Jackson. If the crossover artists are available, we’d be happy to have them, but the big names we’re going after aren’t necessarily the black artists that whites like.”

Cornelius laughed. “I’m not concerned so far. We’re getting calls from industry people, and all they want to know is, ‘How can we get tickets?’ ”