Aaliyah

Singer and actor

• Born: January 16, 1979
• Birthplace: Brooklyn, New York
• Died: August 25, 2001
• Place of death: Marsh Harbour, Abaco Islands, Bahamas

Aaliyah was a rhythm-and-blues singer and actor. She recorded several chart-topping hits and was known for her delicate soprano vocals over gritty hip-hop beats. She died in a plane crash at age twenty-two, cutting short a promising career in the entertainment industry.

Early Life

Aaliyah (ah-LEE-yah) was born Aaliyah Dana Haughton on January 16, 1979, in Brooklyn, New York, to Michael and Diane Haughton. Her name derives from the Arabic “Ali,” meaning “highest and most exalted one.” When she was five years old, the family moved to Detroit, Michigan, where Aaliyah and her older brother, Rashad, grew up in a middle-class black neighborhood. Aaliyah’s mother discovered the child’s talent when she was four years old. Soon, Aaliyah began singing at weddings, church festivities, and charity events. 1n 1988, she began taking voice lessons. The next year, she performed in her first stage musical, Annie, and received rave reviews. She immediately asked her parents if she could begin performing professionally.

Aaliyah’s uncle Barry Hankerson, an entertainment lawyer, became her manager. Hankerson’s wife, renowned soul singer Gladys Knight, took Aaliyah under her wing. During the early 1990’s, Aaliyah performed with Knight in Las Vegas. These performances earned her an opportunity to compete on the television talent show Star Search. Although she did not win, she gained valuable experience and exposure.

In 1991, Aaliyah signed with Hankerson’s record label, Blackground Records. Three years later, her uncle signed a distribution deal with Jive Records. Aaliyah began working on her first studio album with singer, songwriter, and producer R. Kelly. The album, Age Ain’t Nothing But a Number (1994), sold more than three million copies in the United States and was certified three times platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America. Its first single, “Back and Forth,” was number one on the Billboard rhythm-and-blues chart for three weeks and was certified gold. Aaliyah’s pure tone and well-trained vocals over driving beats appealed to fans of rhythm and blues and hip-hop.

Aaliyah, still a high school student herself, became a trendsetter for teenage girls who emulated her baggy clothes and sunglasses. She attended Detroit High School for the Fine and Performing Arts (later the Detroit School of Arts, or DSA), majoring in dance and drama while beginning her professional career as a singer. She continued to attend DSA despite her growing fame. In 1997, she graduated with a perfect 4.0 grade point average.

Life’s Work

In 1996, Aaliyah left Jive Records and signed a distribution deal with Atlantic Records. She soon began work on her second studio album, One in a Million (1997), produced by Timbaland and Missy Elliott. The album peaked at number eighteen on the Billboard Top 200 chart and went on to sell three million records nationwide.

After the release of One in a Million, Aaliyah took a hiatus from recording her own studio albums to work on other projects. In 1997, she recorded “Journey to the Past” for the animated film Anastasia. The song was nominated for an Academy Award, and Aaliyah performed it at the Oscar ceremony. In 2000, she landed her first major film role, playing the lead in Romeo Must Die. She also served as executive producer for the film’s sound track. The lead single, Aaliyah’s “Try Again,” peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot 100, won two MTV Video Music Awards, and was nominated for a Grammy. She filmed her second motion picture, the vampire thriller Queen of the Damned, soon afterward.

The next year, Aaliyah released her third and final album, Aaliyah (2001). To promote the album, Aaliyah flew to the Abaco Islands in the Bahamas to film the music video for its second single, “Rock the Boat.” On August 25, 2001, Aaliyah and her staff boarded an early flight to return to the United States. Shortly after takeoff, the plane crashed, killing everyone on board.

The week after Aaliyah’s death, her album reached number one on the Billboard charts. It went on to sell more than two million copies. She posthumously won two American Music Awards. In 2002, six months after her death, Queen of the Damned opened at number one. That same year, a compilation album of Aaliyah’s unreleased material titled I Care 4 U was released. A portion of the album’s proceeds went to a memorial foundation established by her family.

Significance

Aaliyah maintained a gracious and confident image until her career came to a sudden and unexpected end. In life, she was humbled by her musical and artistic gifts. She remained a role model for many young women who aspired to pursue careers in music, dancing, and acting. She is likely to be remembered as remaining true to her trendsetting style and positive image in the entertainment industry.

Bibliography

Farley, Christopher J. Aaliyah: More than a Woman. New York: Pocket Books, 2001. More tribute than biography, this source nonetheless offers plenty of information about Aaliyah’s life.

Kim, Hyun. “What Lies Beneath?” Vibe 9, no. 8 (August, 2001): 98-104. This magazine cover story was written shortly before Aaliyah’s death and covers her evolving musical style, acting career, and aura of mystery.

“Singer Aaliyah, Eight Others Die in Plane Crash in Bahamas.” Jet 100, no. 13 (September 10, 2001). Details the plane crash and provides extensive background information on Aaliyah’s life and career.

Sutherland, William. Aaliyah Remembered: Her Life and the Person Behind the Mystique. Victoria, B.C.: Trafford, 2005. This biography was produced in cooperation with Aaliyah’s family and benefits the Aaliyah Memorial Fund. It offers many quotations by and about the singer.