EXCERPT FROM SOULTRACKS.COM ~ Hey SoulTrackers, the time has come! After a month of receiving nominations from you and having 2,000 soul music artists and industry people narrow the choices down, we finally have named our finalists for the 2009 SoulTracks Readers' Choice Awards! There were so many quality artists it was a tough job, but our committee narrowed it down to seven finalists in each category. And between October 23 and November 8th, SoulTrackers will be voting for this year's winners. If you are on our email list, you'll receive your personal ballot by email on October 24. If you're not on our list, sign up at the top left hand corner of this page and you'll receive a ballot by email. Only one ballot is allowed per email address. This year's SoulTracks Readers' Choice Awards will be broadcast on December 7th at 8:00 p.m., hosted by our good friend Jodine Dorce of Jodine's Corner. Stay tuned and we'll tell you all of the places you'll be able to hear the awards show. And this year's awards will have a special purpose. 
This year we have adopted Detroit's Cornerstone Schools, a series of three urban schools that have become a national model for how to education our children. 95% of Cornerstone students graduate from high school and each student begins musical training in third grade. So for each ballot cast in this year's Awards voting, SoulTracks will donate $1.00 to Cornerstone Schools. So every person who takes the time to vote among the deserving artists will also be helping a young student's education. Here are this year's Awards finalists:
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
| Calvin Richardson - Facts of Life: The Soul of Bobby Womack |
| Darien - If These Walls Could Talk |
| Eric Roberson - Music Fan First |
| Foreign Exchange - Leave It All Behind |
| Leela James - Let's Do It Again |
| Maysa - Metamorphosis |
| Various Artists - Silky Soul Music: An All-Star Tribute to Frankie Beverly/Maze |
SONG OF THE YEAR
| Calvin Richardson - Woman's Got To Have It |
| Eric Roberson - The Power That Kisses Hold |
| Eric Roberson & Lalah Hathaway - Dealing |
| Foreign Exchange - Daykeeper |
| Leela James - Baby I'm Scared of You |
| Maysa - Grateful |
| Tortured Soul - Did You Miss Me? |
MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
| Ali Ollie Woodson |
| Calvin Richardson |
| Darien |
| Eric Roberson |
| Rahsaan Patterson |
| Russell Taylor |
| Ty Causey |
FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
| Choklate |
| Leela James |
| Maysa |
| Oleta Adams |
| Syleena Johnson |
| Wayna |
| Yahzarah |
DUO OR GROUP OF THE YEAR
| Foreign Exchange |
| Jaspects |
| Kloud 9 |
| Melba Moore and Phil Perry |
| Swing Out Sister |
| The Revelations feat. Tre Williams |
| Tortured Soul |
NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR
| Chester Gregory |
| Darien |
| Jesse Boykins III |
| Kimberly Nichole |
| Melinda Doolittle |
| Shae Fiol |
| The Revelations feat. Tre Williams |
MAJOR LABEL ALBUM OF THE YEAR
| Anthony Hamilton - The Point of It All |
| Chrisette Michele - Epiphany |
| Ledisi - Turn Me Loose |
| Mary Mary - The Sound |
| Maxwell - BLACKsummers'night |
| Raphael Saadiq - The Way I See It |
| Will Downing - Classique |
