Happy Birthday Aaliyah; the R&B Star Would Have Turned 36 Today
Aaliyah once graced us with hits such as ‘Age Ain’t Nothin’ But A Number,’ but today it is just a memory. Today we celebrate the birthday of the sultry singer and actress who was killed at the young age of 22, when her plane crashed in The Bahamas, on August 25, 2001.
Aaliyah Dana Haughton January 16, 1979 – August 25, 2001) was an American singer, dancer, actress, and model. She was born in Brooklyn, New York, and raised in Detroit, Michigan. At the age of 10, she appeared on the television show Star Search and performed in concert alongside Gladys Knight. 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, Age Ain’t Nothing but a Number. 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.
Aaliyah’s second album ‘One in a Million’ sold 3.7 million copies in America, it went on to sell over 8 million copies worldwide. Haughton appeared in her first major film in 2000, when she appeared in ‘Romeo Must Die.’ She then filmed a part in ‘Queen of the Damned,‘ movie. The all grown up, R&B diva released her third and final eponymous album in July 2001.
Aaliyah and 8 others were killed after filming a music video for her song ‘Rock the Boat’ in The Bahamas. The unlicensed pilot Luis Morales III was found to have alcohol and traces of cocaine in his system. It was said the plane was weighed down by luggage and equipment.
At the time of death Aaliyah was engaged to Damon Dash. The “Princess of R&B” is listed by Billboard as the tenth most successful R&B artist of the last 25 years. She is listed as the 27th most successful R&B artist in history.
In November 2014 a Lifetime TV biopic movie titled Aaliyah: The Princess of R&B premiered. The movie was highly disapproved from the Haughton family.
Happy Birthday Aaliyah, from The Source, R.I.P
-Sara D(@evolaras4real)
