Since exploding onto the music scene in 1993 with her debut single "Back & Forth", Aaliyah has led the music industry with her vocal vitality and smooth style.
Aaliyah (pronounced Aa-lee-yah)Dana Haughton was born on the 16th January 1979 in New York, although she spent much of her young and teenage years growing up in Detroit.Aaliyah's parents were both performers, which garnted her desire to follow in their footseps, although her talent for the performing arts was initially revealed during a school auditon for a minor role in the musical,Annie.This event,sparking her desire further to become a performer lead Aaliyah into auditioning and performing all over Detroit, hoping to be recognised and signed. Performing on the popular television show "Star Search Stage" granted Aaliyah's due and deserving recognition. At age 11 Aaliyah performed alongside famous Aunt, Gladys Night, among a large crowd within Las Vegas. This experience was an eduactional one for Aaliyah, and was one which she would never forget.
Aaliyah's international stardom is credited to well known actor, and dear uncle,Barry Hankerson, who introduced her to R'n'B heart throb R.Kelly. Shortly after their acqaintance, production on "Age Aint Nothing But A Number" ensued, the album which would transpose the unknown child from Detroit into the mature international R'n'B superstar.
Aaliyah's 1st single off the album "Back & Forth" debuted as #1 on the hot 100 singles chart, followed by yet another superior single "At Your Best (You Are Love)", a remake of the touching classic originated by the Isley Brothers. This single flexed Aaliyah's vocal potentiol and versitile range. The striking nature of the captivating album, as well as the true mystery of Aaliyah's true age sparked a frenzy within the media about an alleged marriage between 14 yr old Aaliyah, and 24 yr old R.Kelly. Although this rumour was denied by both parties repetitively, the anecdote blossomed into a range of other career threatening rumours, including that of Aaliyah's supposed pregnancy.
Due to the violent barricade of rumours, Aaliyah withdrew from the public eye for a period of three years, meanwhile switching her management crew to hip hop stars Missy Elliot and Timbaland.
By the prgession of 1996, the world was more that ready for the release of Aaliyah's second album "One In A Million". This album conveyed Aaliyah's maturity and growth, leading it to go to straight to double platinum. Hit after heart pounding hit followed off the album, initiated by the sassy and seductive melody of "If Your Girl Only Knew". Other singles off the album included MTV Music Award nominated "One In A Million", noise making "4 Page Letter" and 1997's chart toppping R'N'B single "The One I Gave My Heart To".
Since the termination of 1997, Aaliyah had conquered both music and movie industries with hits like "Journey To The Past", the oscar nominated single off the "Anastasia" album, allowing Aaliyah to perform live at the Oscars. Other acts included "Are You That Somebody", extracted from the Dr Dolittle Soundtrack. This single became the surprise hit of the summer of '98, with it's filmclip earning Aaliyah a VMA for Best Female Video. 1999 saw Aaliyah's contribution to musical based motion picture "Music Of The Heart" by the realease of the hit "Turn The Page"
Aaliyah ventured her debut onscreen performance with Romeo Must Die" in 2000, alongside international kung fu male superstar "Jet Li". "Try Again", the huge hit off the movie soundtrack, which Aaliyah appeared on four times and produced, became the first to hit #1 on the Billboard Hit 100 Singled Chart based on airplay, as well as earning Aaliyah a grammy nomination, and 2 vma award for best song for a film, and best video based on a soundtrack.
Outstanding reviews lead to Aaliyah's second onscreen role as a 4,000 century regal creature, Queen Akasha, in Anne Rice's interpretation "Queen Of The Damned". The film received great success in the American movie box office.
July 2001 saw the final release of Aaliyah's self titled album, Aaliyah. Her popular reputation and exceptional talent saw the album being a colossal hit on release, including the hit singles "We Need A Resolution", "Rock The Boat" and "More Than A Woman"
The world expected Aaliyah to continually entertain it with her spectacular style of music, movies and dance, but unfortunately that dream vanished after Aaliyah's death was announced on the 25th August 2001, she was just 22. Her fatality was due to her jet crashing after take off from the Bahamas, killing her and everybody on board, following a video shoot.
Aaliyah leaves behind music and movies which will forever capture the talent, vitality and grace which made her such a significant artist at such a young age. Aaliyah's invariable success makes the meaning of her name a self fulfilling prophecy, as she had truly just begun to live up to the concept meaning of her name;the highest most exalted one...
Bio written by: caroline |
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