Steppin’ Out at the 17th American Music Awards

Dance music taps across the spectrum of pop, rock, soul and rhythm & blues with nominees for the 17th annual American Music Awards spotlighting the reigning popularity of music that moves.

Vocalist Bobby Brown and singer Paula Abdul exemplify the dance trend with nominations in the pop-rock, soul-R&B; and the first-ever dance category.

The American Music Awards will be presented tonight at the Shrine Auditorium in a three-hour show broadcast by ABC-TV.

Triple nominee Anita Baker, veteran rocker Alice Cooper, pop single nominee Gloria Estefan and country duo contenders The Judds will host the Dick Clark-produced show.

There were 27 nominations grouped in six categories: pop-rock, soul-rhythm & blues, country, heavy metal, rap and dance.

Brown, a favorite with five nominations, was a contender for male vocalist and album, “Don’t Be Cruel,” in both pop-rock and soul-R&B.; He was also up for favorite dance artist against Abdul and Janet Jackson.

Abdul’s other nominations were for female vocalist in the pop-rock and soul-R&B; categories, and for pop-rock album, “Forever Your Girl.”

Other top nominees included Tone Loc, with one dance bid and three rap nominations, and Soul II Soul, with three soul-R&B; bids and two dance nods.

Prince, nominated for male vocalist in the soul-rhythm & blues category, will be presented a special achievement award for influencing “the look and sounds of the 1980s” through writing, performing, recording and movies.

Prince released nine albums during the decade and starred in three films, most notably the popular “Purple Rain.”