| Singer and actress Aaliyah was born on January 16, 1979 in Brooklyn, NY to parents Diane and Michael Haughton and older brother Rashad. She later relocated with her family to Detroit, where she landed her first acting role in her school play of Annie. With sparkles in her eyes and dreams of bigger things in her future winning a role in Annie was just the beginning for what she had in mind to accomplish. However things did not come so easy, Aaliyah went on countless auditions such as auditioning for the television sitcom Family Matters and she even appeared on the very popular Star Search, performing My Funny Valentine. Although she was not picked for the role and did not win Star Search with 3 3/4 stars, Aaliyah did not let those losses defer her from her goals she had planned out for herself. Those losses only gave her more drive to fulfil her dreams. Not long after losing on Star Search, Aaliyah got an opportunity of a lifetime which was a five night stint to perform with legendary singer Gladys Knight in Las Vegas at the age of 11.
Not long after, 15 year old Aaliyah released her first album Age Ain't Nothing But A Number. 1994 was Aaliyah's year to shine and to show the world what she waited her life to do and that was to perform and showcase her talent. Her debut album was a success, with such singles as Back and Forth, Age Ain't Nothing But A Number and the remake of the Isley Brothers classic At Your Best (You Are Love). She not only captured audiences with her beautiful voice which she coined as being "street but sweet" but she also drew people in, in a way that no one can really explain. She was a shy woman but there was still a bit of an edge to her. She was always a mystery, never saying more than she needed, which kept people guessing. She also became a style icon at such a tender age, with her trademark baggy pants, dark shades and side part of the hair that always covered her left eye. However with fame came rumors. As the saying goes, "You are not famous unless you're talked about". Still on the high of her success, rumors began to surface that the then 15 year old Aaliyah married her then music mentor, 27 year old Robert Kelly. Vibe magazine broke the news and also printed a copy of the "marriage license". However both Aaliyah and R. Kelly denied the rumors and parted ways, never speaking on the issue again.
After the success of her debut album Aaliyah decided to return to highschool, because education was always important. Aaliyah attended Detroit Performing Arts High school, where she graduated with a 4.0 GPA in 1997.
In 1996 Aaliyah was ready to give the entertainment world a treat, with a new sound that changed music. With the help of super producers Missy Elliot and Timbaland, Aaliyah returned to the music scene and captivated the world again. One In A Million was another classic album, with hits such as Hot Like Fire, One In A Million, and 4 Page Letter. She knew she was here to stay. With this album, Aaliyah introduced us to a more sexier side as she was becoming a woman. Everyone also saw the performer in her as she showcased her dance moves and the very popular belly roll that she did in most of her music videos.
Although her next album was not until 2001, Aaliyah stayed relevant, by singing on several movie soundtracks: Anastasia, Dr. Dolittle, and Romeo Must Die. During her break from singing, Aaliyah did not stay put, she knew that there was a next chapter in her life that she wanted to accomplish and that was acting. Aaliyah first role was as the character Trish O'Day in the modern day spin of Romeo And Juliet in Romeo Must Die, which was released in 2000. The Romeo Must Die soundtrack was also a hit with the chartopping single Try Again. With the success of Romeo Must Die, Aaliyah signed on to play Queen Akasha in the 2002 movie based on the Anne Rice novel Queen of the Damned.
In 2001, Aaliyah was back and ready to entertain, with her last studio album, Aaliyah. The Aaliyah album recieved great reviews, as the world got a glimpse of the woman Aaliyah turned out to be. She was no longer the 15 year old girl who wore baggy pants but a beautiful, sexy and much mature young woman. In the video for her first single We Need A Resolution, Aaliyah blossomed in front of the cameras wearing a black lace dress; she was embracing the sensual side of her. Aaliyah debuted at number 2, with other hit singles such as Rock The Boat and More Than A Woman.
It was after the video shoot for Rock The Boat that we lost the great and beautiful Aaliyah. August 25, 2001, Aaliyah along with her crew: Anthony Dodd, Eric Foreman, Scott Gallin, Keeth Wallace, Gina Smith, Douglas Kratz, and Christopher Maldonado, boarded a twin engine Cessna in Marsh Harbour, Abaco Island, Bahamas headed back to the States. The plane crashed shortly after it left the runway, killing Aaliyah, her crew and the pilot Luis Morales.
At the time of her death Aaliyah was signed on to several movie roles which included The Matrix Reloaded and Revolutions, Honey, and Sparkle.
Although Aaliyah is no longer here, her music and memory will always live on. Her sound is classic and timeless.
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