Aaliyah Dana Haughton[1] (January 16, 1979 - August 25, 2001), better known as Aaliyah, was an American singer, dancer, actress and model. Introduced to audiences by R&B singer R. Kelly, Aaliyah became famous during the mid-1990s with several hit records from the songwriting/production team of Missy Elliott and Timbaland and their associate Steve "Static" Garrett. Aaliyah soon joined Timbaland's R&B and hip hop collective, the Superfriends Clique. She, Brandy and Monica were considered as "the holy trinity of young R&B starlets". [3]
She is notable for recording several hit records, including several number one R&B hits, a number one pop hit and five top 10 singles on the Billboard Hot 100. Despite her short career, she sold 40 million records in the U.S. and over 20 million worldwide. In addition to commercial success, her collaborations with Timbaland helped shape the sound of R&B in the latter half of the 1990s.[4] She also modeled for Tommy Hilfiger and starred in two motion pictures before her death in a plane crash in the Bahamas.[5]
Aaliyah Dana Haughton was born in Bedford-Stuyvesant, a neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York City, New York to Michael and Diane Haughton, and was raised in Detroit, Michigan. Her name means "Highest, Most Exalted, The Best" in both Arabic[6][7] and Hebrew.[8] Her maternal Grandmother, Mintis L. Hicks Hankerson, gave her the middle name Dana. Aaliyah was brought up as a Catholic with her older brother Rashad Haughton. Her maternal Grandmother was of African American and Native American descent. Diane Haughton, Aaliyah's mother, also a vocalist, encouraged her daughter's career.
In 1991, she appeared on the TV talent show Star Search at age ten, singing her mother's favorite song, "My Funny Valentine". Although she did not win, she remained a good sport and continued to perfect her skills. Aaliyah worked with an agent in New York and began to attend auditions for TV shows, including Family Matters.
Following her appearance on Star Search Aaliyah performed on stage in Las Vegas, Nevada with Gladys Knight, her aunt by way of Knight's marriage to her uncle, Barry Hankerson. In her early teens, Aaliyah attended the Detroit High School for the Fine and Performing Arts, and graduated as a Dance major with a 4.0 GPA.
