C+C Music Factory triumphed at the 19th annual American Music Awards on Monday by winning five trophies, while country superstar Garth Brooks garnered three.
Pop star Michael Bolton, soul's Luther Vandross and Natalie Cole each got two awards.C+C Music Factory won trophies for favorite dance music single for "Gonna Make You Sweat," favorite dance artist and new dance artist, best pop-rock group and favorite new pop-rock artist.
In sweeping the dance music category, C+C defeated Madonna, Crystal Waters, Mariah Carey and The KLF.
The group has been stung in the past by allegations of lip-syncing, but Zelma Davis hummed a few bars at the podium to prove that she really can sing.
There was an outpouring of sympathy for Brooks, who couldn't claim his three trophies because his pregnant wife became ill. He won top country single for "The Thunder Rolls," favorite country album for "No Fences" and favorite male country artist.
"Unforgettable," Natalie Cole's tribute to the music of her father, Nat King Cole, was named favorite adult contemporary album. Cole also won favorite adult contemporary artist, besting Paula Abdul and 11-time winner Whitney Houston.
"I don't know how many times Whitney and I have been in the same category, but I'm going to enjoy this one," Cole said as she picked up her second award.
In the favorite female artist category, Abdul won for pop-rock, Carey for soul-rhythm and blues, and Reba McEntire for country.
Color Me Badd, which entered the ceremony with six nominations, won favorite soul-rhythm and blues single for "I Wanna Sex You Up."
Bolton won favorite male pop-rock artist and his "Time, Love and Tenderness" was the top album in that category. Bryan Adams won favorite pop-rock single for "(Everything I Do) I Do It For You."
Vandross captured the male artist trophy, and his "Power of Love" record took the album honors in the soul-R&B division.
Hammer, host of the presentation, collected his eighth trophy as favorite rap artist. Naughty By Nature was favorite new rap artist.
D.J. Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince won the rap album honor for "Homebase."
James Brown, the legendary "Godfather of Soul," was presented the Award of Merit. Brown performed a medley of his hits.
The perennial favorite country group Alabama won its 15th American Music Award for best band, duo or group in that category.
Guns N' Roses beat Metallica and Van Halen for the favorite heavy metal-hard rock artist award. Van Halen's "For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge" was the top album.
The favorite soul-rhythm and blues band trophy went to Bell Biv Devoe.
Thirty trophies were at stake in seven categories: pop-rock, soul-rhythm & blues, country, heavy metal-hard rock, rap, adult contemporary and dance.
The American Music Awards are produced by dick clark productions inc.
Winners were selected by the public through a national sampling of approximately 20,000 record buyers. The sampling takes into account geographic location, age, sex and ethnicity.
Names of nominees on the ballot were based upon calculations involving year-end sales and airplay data.
The information was supplied by a music industry trade publication, Radio & Records, and SoundScan Inc., a computerized point-of-sale tracking system that complies sales data from more than 10,000 record retail outlets.
Ballots were sent by National Family Opinion Inc. and results were tabulated by the KPMC Peat Marwick accounting firm.
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(Chart)
Pop/Rock - Favorite male: Michael Bolton; female: Paula Abdul; band, duo or group: C+C Music Factory; single: "Everything I Do, I Do It For You," Bryan Adams; album: "Time, Love and Tenderness," Michael Bolton; new artist: C+C Music Factory.
Country - Favorite male: Garth Brooks; female: Reba McEntire; band, duo or group: Alabama; single: "The Thunder Rolls," Garth Brooks; album: "No Fences," Garth Brooks; new artist: Trisha Yearwood.
Soul/Rhythm - Favorite male artist: Luther Vandross; female: Mariah Carey; band, duo or group: Bell Biv Devoe; single: "I Wanna Sex You Up," Color Me Badd; album: "Power of Love," Luther Vandross; new artist: Boyz II Men.
Heavy Metal/Hard Rock - Favorite artist: Guns N' Roses; new artist: Firehouse; album: "For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge," Van Halen.
Rap - Favorite artist: Hammer; new artist: Naughty By Nature; album: "Homebase," D.J. Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince.
Dance - Favorite artist: C+C Music Factory; new artist: C+C Music Factory; single: "Gonna Make You Sweat," C+C Music Factory.
Adult Contemporary - Favorite artist: Natalie Cole; new artist: Michael W. Smith; album: "Unforgettable," Natalie Cole.