Aaliyah Dana Haughton
Born on Monday January 16, 1978 died Saturday August 25, 2001, Sign Capricorn
(Baby Girl , Princess of R&B, Queen of Urban Pop)
Aaliyah Dana Haughton, Natural beauty known as the essential artist. She was a triple threat, singer, actor, producer, and dancer. She was born in Brooklyn, New York, and raised in Detroit, Michigan. Born of African American descent, with Native American heritage from her grandmother, she was the second and youngest child of Diane a backup singer, and Michael Haughton. At a young age, Aaliyah was enrolled in voice lessons by her mother, and she would perform at weddings and charity events. When she was five years old, her family moved to Detroit, Michigan, where she was raised along with her older brother, Rashad. Aaliyah went to a Roman Catholic school and at the age of 10, she appeared on the television show Star Search and performed in concert alongside Gladys Knight who is also her aunt m. At age 12, Aaliyah signed with Jive Records and her uncle Barry Hankerson’s Blackground Records. Hankerson introduced her to R. Kelly, who became her mentor, as well as lead songwriter and producer of her debut album at the age of 14 which was called, Age Ain’t Nothing but a Number. She also married from 1994-1995 to the same mentor. The album sold three million copies in the United States and was certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). After facing allegations of an illegal marriage with R. Kelly, Aaliyah ended her contract with Jive and signed with Atlantic Records in 1996, She worked with record producers Timberland and Missy Elliott, who contributed to her second studio album One in a Million. The album was certified triple platinum by the RIAA on June 16, 1997, and sold over eight million worldwide. She has sold over 32 million albums. Aaliyah released her eponymous album, Aaliyah, in July 2001. The album mainly features her on the cover without the trademark of her eye covered and a full red background that she was imprinted in and lightened so you could see her figure but yet still red. The album debuted at number two on the Billboard 200, selling 187,000 copies in its first week. The album went double platinum selling over 2.95 million. At the age of 22, the second single was already shot and she believed was to be released to her surprise her record label which she was going to end the relationship advised her more than a woman would not be released as yet for the second single that she must go to Miami and then to the Bahamas to do the rock the boat video. After the finish of the shoot Aaliyah and her crew boarded the flight without luggage being weighed in and properly checked and took off for New York. The crash occurred Saturday evening, seconds after the twin-engine Cessna 402 took off from Marsh Harbour airport on Abaco Island. Grammy-nominated Aaliyah, 22, was killed instantly. Six others died at the scene, and two died in hospitals. Aaliyah suffered from “severe burns and a blow to the head”, in addition to severe shock and a weak heart. The coroner theorized that she went into such a state of shock, even if Aaliyah had survived the crash, her recovery would have been virtually impossible.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) report stated that “the airplane was seen lifting off the runway and then nose down, impacting in a marsh on the south side of the departure end of runway 27 and then exploding in flames. They indicated that the pilot was not approved to fly the plane he was attempting to fly. Morales falsely obtained his Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) license by showing hundreds of hours never flown, and he may also have falsified how many hours he had flown in order to get a job with his employer, Blackhawk International Airways. Additionally, an autopsy performed on Morales revealed traces of cocaine and alcohol in his system.
Some entertainers and fans have been very verbal about how her life ended which led up to many conspiracy theories due to the death of Lisa Left Eye Lopez, and the destruction of the world trade center twin towers.
Aaliyah’s funeral was held on August 31, 2001, at the St. Ignatius Loyola Church in Manhattan. Her body was set in a silver casket, which was carried in a see-through glass hearse and was drawn by a horse. An estimated 800 mourners were in attendance at the procession. Among those in attendance at the private ceremony were Missy Elliott, Timberland, Stacy Dash, Mary J. Blige, Ginuwine, Sole, Mia X, Kidda Jones, Mya, Usher, Buster Rhymes, DMX, her aunt Gladys Knight, Lil’ Kim and Sean Combs, JZ, Damon Dash and other entertainers and in the film industry.
After the service, 22 white doves were released to symbolize each year of Aaliyah’s life. Aaliyah was interred in a private room at the end of a corridor in the Rosewood Mausoleum at the Ferncliff Cemetery in Hartsdale, New York.
As a result of the accident, Aaliyah’s parents filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the company, which was settled out of court for an undisclosed amount.
Life After Death Awards and Movie
Aaliyah won two posthumous awards at the American Music Awards of 2002; Favorite Female R&B Artist and Favorite R&B/Soul Album for Aaliyah. Her second and final film, Queen of the Damned, was released in February 2002. Before its release, Aaliyah brother, Rashad, re-dubbed some of her lines during post-production and made interviews explaining and letting the fans feel comfortable knowing it was the best re-dubbing. The film opened at number one and domestically grossed $15.2 million in its first weekend.
On the first anniversary of Aaliyah’s death, a candlelight vigil was held in Times Square; millions of fans observed a moment of silence; and throughout the United States, radio stations played her music in remembrance. In December 2002, a collection of previously unreleased material was released as Aaliyah’s first posthumous album, I Care 4 U. A portion of the proceeds was donated to the Aaliyah Memorial Fund, a program that benefits the Revlon UCLA Women’s Cancer Research Program and Harlem’s Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. It debuted at number three on the Billboard 200, selling 280,000 copies in its first week. The album’s lead single, “Miss You”, peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot 100 and topped the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.
In 2005, Aaliyah’s second compilation album, Ultimate Aaliyah was released in the UK by Blackground Records a three-disc set, which included a greatest, hits audio CD and a DVD. The documentary movie Aaliyah Live in Amsterdam was released in 2011. shortly before the tenth anniversary of Aaliyah’s death. The documentary, by Pogus Caesar, contained previously unseen footage shot of her career beginnings in 1995 when she was appearing in the Netherlands.
She has been ranked 10th of the most successful female R&B artist of the past 25 years and the 27th most successful R&B artist in history. Aaliyah has won 44 awards out of the 65 she was nominated for.
Aaliyah’s songs have been said to have “crisp production” and “staccato arrangements” that “extend genre boundaries” while containing “old-school” soul music. She is missed by those who knew her kind humble spirit. She will always be remembered as a role model, a perfectionist entertainer that gave her all and loved her family, career, and fans.
Awards and Honors
American Music Awards
2002, Favorite Soul/R&B Female Artist
2002, Favorite R&B/Soul Album: Aaliyah
2003, Favorite Female R&B Artist
Black Entertainment Television Awards
2002, Best Actress: “Queen of the Damned”
Billboard Awards
1996, Top R&B Single of the Year, Female; “One in a Million”
1998, Top Hip-Hop/R&B Single Airplay Single of the Year; Are You That Somebody
2000, Top Hip-Hop/R&B Artist of the Year, Female
2003, Top Hip-Hop/R&B Artist of the Year, Female
2003, Top Hip-Hop/R&B Album of the Year, Female
2003, Top Hip-Hop/R&B Single of the Year, Female
Icon Israeli Musical Artist Award
2004, Best Selling International Female Artist of the year
MOBO Awards
2002, Best Video: “More Than a Woman”
2002, Best Dance Video: “More Than a Woman”
2002, Best International Act;
2002, Best Video: “Rock The Boat”
2002, Best Video Female R&B Vocals “We Need A Resolution”
MTV Music Awards
2000, Best Female Video: “Try Again”
2000, Best Video From Film: “Try Again”
2002, Best R&B Video: “Rock the Boat”
MTV Movie Awards
1999, Best Movie Song: “Are You That Somebody?”
2001, Best Movie Song: “Try Again”
MTV Europe Music Awards
2001, Best Song: “Try Again”
2003, Best Song: “Rock the Boat”
New Musical Express, UK (NME)
2002, Record of The Year: “More Than a Woman”
Pakistan Music Awards
2001, Best song from a female artist Aaliyah – Try Again
2001, Best song from an international film Aaliyah – Try Again
2001, Best Female Dance Video Aaliyah – Try Again
Rolling Stone
2001, Best R&B Album, Aaliyah for “Aaliyah”
Soul Train Awards
2001, Female R&B/Soul Single: “Try Again”
2002 Female R&B/Soul Single: “Rock the Boat”
Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards
2002 Best R&B/Soul Single: “Rock the Boat”
2002, Best R&B/Soul or Rap Song of the Year: “Rock the Boat”
World Music Awards
2002 World’s Best Selling Female R&B Artist Of The Year