The 15th Annual American Music Awards were held on January 25, 1988, at the Shrine Auditorium, in Los Angeles, California
Performances Artist(s)Song(s)Introduced by Gloria EstefanMiami Sound Machine "Rhythm Is Gonna Get You""Surrender""Conga" Barbara Mandrell Whitney Houston "Where Do Broken Hearts Go" Barbara Mandrell Bee Gees "You Win Again" Mick Fleetwood Eric CarmenBill MedleyJennifer Warnes Dirty Dancing medley:"Hungry Eyes" "(I've Had) The Time of My Life" "Johnny's Mambo" "Do You Love Me" "(I've Had) The Time of My Life" Whitney Houston Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam "Head to Toe" Mick Fleetwood LL Cool J "I'm Bad" Mick Fleetwood Smokey Robinson "Love Don't Give No Reason" Barbara Mandrell Barbara Mandrell "Sure Feels Good Being with You" Smokey Robinson Whitney HoustonCissy HoustonGary Houston "Wonderful Counselor" Whitney Houston Icehouse "Electric Blue" Olivia Newton-John Randy Travis "Forever and Ever, Amen" Barbara Mandrell The Beach Boys and all artists "Surfin' U.S.A." Glen Campbell Notes
Winners and nominees Subcategory Winner NomineesPop/Rock Category Favorite Pop/Rock Male Artist Paul Simon Michael Jackson George Michael Favorite Pop/Rock Female Artist Whitney Houston Janet Jackson Madonna Favorite Pop/Rock Band/Duo/Group Bon Jovi Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam U2 Favorite Pop/Rock Album Graceland – Paul Simon Slippery When Wet – Bon Jovi The Joshua Tree – U2 Whitesnake 1987 – Whitesnake Favorite Pop/Rock Song "I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)" – Whitney Houston "Livin' On A Prayer" – Bon Jovi "Shakedown" – Bob Seger Favorite Pop/Rock and Soul/R&B Video "When I Think of You" – Janet Jackson "Sledgehammer" – Peter Gabriel "I Didn't Mean to Turn You On" – Robert PalmerSoul/R&B Category Favorite Soul/R&B Male Artist Luther Vandross LL Cool J Smokey Robinson Favorite Soul/R&B Female Artist Anita Baker Whitney Houston Janet Jackson Favorite Soul/R&B Band/Duo/Group Cameo Club Nouveau Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam Favorite Soul/R&B Album Rapture – Anita Baker Bigger & Deffer – LL Cool J Give Me the Reason – Luther Vandross Favorite Soul/R&B Song "Bad" – Michael Jackson "Casanova" – Levert "Looking For A New Love" – Jody Watley Favorite Pop/Rock and Soul/R&B Video "When I Think of You" – Janet Jackson "Sledgehammer" – Peter Gabriel "I Didn't Mean to Turn You On" – Robert PalmerCountry Category Favorite Country Male Artist Randy Travis George Strait Hank Williams, Jr. Favorite Country Female Artist Reba McEntire Rosanne Cash Tanya Tucker Favorite Country Band/Duo/Group Alabama The Judds Restless Heart Favorite Country Album Always & Forever – Randy Travis Heartland – The Judds Ocean Front Property – George Strait Favorite Country Song "Forever and Ever, Amen" – Randy Travis "Ocean Front Property" – George Strait "Born to Boogie" – Hank Williams, Jr. Favorite Country Video "Forever and Ever, Amen" – Randy Travis "What Am I Gonna Do About You" – Reba McEntire "My Name Is Bocephus" – Hank Williams, Jr.MeritThe Beach Boys
References
http://www.rockonthenet.com/archive/1988/amas.htm