An look at one of my favorite actors/singers Presented by Tia Ferrandino

Contents  Beginnings  Age Ain’t Nothing but a Number  Controversy  One in A Million  Becoming a movie star  The crash  The Funeral  Legacy

Beginnings Aaliyah Dana Haughton was born on January 16, 1979, to Michael and Diane Haughton. She was the second of two children and was born in Brooklyn, New York but moved to Detroit, Michigan at a very young age. At 10, she was noticed, appearing on Star Search, singing “My Funny Valentine,” whom she said was for her mother. But unfortunately, she lost. Despite the loss, she went into the audience and enjoyed the rest of the show. At 12, she sang in Las Vegas with Gladys Knight, her aunt by marriage. She also had auditioned (but lost) for a role as Laura Winslow in the hit show Family Matters. Aaliyah Dana Haughton was born on January 16, 1979, to Michael and Diane Haughton. She was the second of two children and was born in Brooklyn, New York but moved to Detroit, Michigan at a very young age. At 10, she was noticed, appearing on Star Search, singing “My Funny Valentine,” whom she said was for her mother. But unfortunately, she lost. Despite the loss, she went into the audience and enjoyed the rest of the show. At 12, she sang in Las Vegas with Gladys Knight, her aunt by marriage. She also had auditioned (but lost) for a role as Laura Winslow in the hit show Family Matters.

Age Ain’t Nothing but a Number After losing the role, Aaliyah decided to concentrate on her school work, attending the Detroit High School for Fine and Performing Arts. She was introduced to RnB crooner/producer/writer R. Kelly and in 1994, her debut Album, “Age Ain’t Nothing but a Number” debuted in May of that year. Hit after hit followed, from “Back and Forth” to “At Your Best (You Are Love).” After losing the role, Aaliyah decided to concentrate on her school work, attending the Detroit High School for Fine and Performing Arts. She was introduced to RnB crooner/producer/writer R. Kelly and in 1994, her debut Album, “Age Ain’t Nothing but a Number” debuted in May of that year. Hit after hit followed, from “Back and Forth” to “At Your Best (You Are Love).”

Controversy The minute she had came onto the scene, Aaliyah had a mysterious side to her. Hiding behind sunglasses, she even avoided to reveal her age, because she wanted people to listen to her voice, NOT to worry about how old she is. But, wonders about her and R.Kelly (real name: Robert), surfaced. Rumors surfaced that 15 year old Aaliyah and 27 year old R.Kelly were married. Both Aaliyah and R.Kelly denied it, and it turned out it was the truth, though a marriage license surfaced that they indeed got married, but it turned out to be a fake. That is when Aaliyah decided, then and there, NOT to go the way she’s going, and to move on. The minute she had came onto the scene, Aaliyah had a mysterious side to her. Hiding behind sunglasses, she even avoided to reveal her age, because she wanted people to listen to her voice, NOT to worry about how old she is. But, wonders about her and R.Kelly (real name: Robert), surfaced. Rumors surfaced that 15 year old Aaliyah and 27 year old R.Kelly were married. Both Aaliyah and R.Kelly denied it, and it turned out it was the truth, though a marriage license surfaced that they indeed got married, but it turned out to be a fake. That is when Aaliyah decided, then and there, NOT to go the way she’s going, and to move on.

One in A Million 1996, Aaliyah teamed up with producers Missy Elliott and Timbaland. She released her second album “One in A Million.” The album is a new fresh start for her, with still RnB beats, but with a touch of Missy and Timbaland’s upbeat flavors, making her sophomore album a worthy successor to her debut album. She also took sometime to continue with her education and graduated in 1997 with a 4.0 grade average. 1996, Aaliyah teamed up with producers Missy Elliott and Timbaland. She released her second album “One in A Million.” The album is a new fresh start for her, with still RnB beats, but with a touch of Missy and Timbaland’s upbeat flavors, making her sophomore album a worthy successor to her debut album. She also took sometime to continue with her education and graduated in 1997 with a 4.0 grade average.

Becoming an Movie Star At six years old, Aaliyah had a small part in her Elementary School play “Annie” as a young orphan. It was a small part, but it gave way to her future. At 12, she auditioned but didn’t get, the role of Laura Winslow. But at 20, she got the role of Trish in the movie “Romeo Must Die”, a hip-hop version of Romeo and Juliet. She played with Isaac Washington and Jet Li (in his first English spoken movie), plus with DMX whom she had done some songs with as well as Timbaland for the soundtrack, which, along with the movie, became a hit when the song in 2000, “Try Again” was released. She had done some soundtracks, including “Doctor Doolittle”-the song “ARE YOU SOMEBODY?”, and “Journey to the Past” for the animated movie “ANASTASIA.” She snagged two roles-one as Zee for the two Matrix sequels and had the title role of Akasha in “Queen of the Damned” which is based on Anne Rice’s books, with Stuart Townsend as the vampire Lestat. It seemed that Aaliyah is on the road to mega stardom. At six years old, Aaliyah had a small part in her Elementary School play “Annie” as a young orphan. It was a small part, but it gave way to her future. At 12, she auditioned but didn’t get, the role of Laura Winslow. But at 20, she got the role of Trish in the movie “Romeo Must Die”, a hip-hop version of Romeo and Juliet. She played with Isaac Washington and Jet Li (in his first English spoken movie), plus with DMX whom she had done some songs with as well as Timbaland for the soundtrack, which, along with the movie, became a hit when the song in 2000, “Try Again” was released. She had done some soundtracks, including “Doctor Doolittle”-the song “ARE YOU SOMEBODY?”, and “Journey to the Past” for the animated movie “ANASTASIA.” She snagged two roles-one as Zee for the two Matrix sequels and had the title role of Akasha in “Queen of the Damned” which is based on Anne Rice’s books, with Stuart Townsend as the vampire Lestat. It seemed that Aaliyah is on the road to mega stardom.

The Crash During the filming of “Queen of the Damned”, Aaliyah worked on her 3 rd Album, this time self-titling it, as “Aaliyah.” The album was released in July of 2001, with the hit “We Need A Resolution” and the smooth hit “Rock the Boat”. After she was finished filming, she flew down to the Bahamas for a video shoot for “Rock the Boat”. A few days later after filming the video, Aaliyah was killed in a plane crash on August 25, 2001, with eight other people. She was only 22. The cause of the plane crash was that it was overloaded with too many people on the plane. An autopsy later showed that the pilot had cocaine in his blood, and wasn’t supposed to fly the plane that day. During the filming of “Queen of the Damned”, Aaliyah worked on her 3 rd Album, this time self-titling it, as “Aaliyah.” The album was released in July of 2001, with the hit “We Need A Resolution” and the smooth hit “Rock the Boat”. After she was finished filming, she flew down to the Bahamas for a video shoot for “Rock the Boat”. A few days later after filming the video, Aaliyah was killed in a plane crash on August 25, 2001, with eight other people. She was only 22. The cause of the plane crash was that it was overloaded with too many people on the plane. An autopsy later showed that the pilot had cocaine in his blood, and wasn’t supposed to fly the plane that day.

The Funeral Aaliyah Dana Haughton died instantly in the plane crash at the age of 22. The crash killed all nine people. On August 31, 2001, a horse drawn carriage, with the singer/actress’ coffin inside, rode through the streets of New York, towards the church where a whole load of her fans waited to say goodbye. Some sang her songs while some just watched or said goodbye. The funeral was private and only attended by her friends and family, though a public memorial service happened just after for the fans to attend. She was buried at Ferncliff in Hartsdale, NY, right nearby her late Grandmother, who was from her mother’s side. Aaliyah Dana Haughton died instantly in the plane crash at the age of 22. The crash killed all nine people. On August 31, 2001, a horse drawn carriage, with the singer/actress’ coffin inside, rode through the streets of New York, towards the church where a whole load of her fans waited to say goodbye. Some sang her songs while some just watched or said goodbye. The funeral was private and only attended by her friends and family, though a public memorial service happened just after for the fans to attend. She was buried at Ferncliff in Hartsdale, NY, right nearby her late Grandmother, who was from her mother’s side.

Legacy Aaliyah’s legacy still lives on through music, her movies, and also through her charity work. A memorial fund were established following her death, and so far, thousands of dollars came pouring in. She also had unreleased tracks and in 2003, a album titled “I Care 4 U” was released. The first hit, “Miss You” was released soon after and made the album platinum. It also grabbed her some Grammy nominations and she has so far won a lot of American Music Awards for both AALIYAH and I CARE 4 U. Her friends still remember her, and so do her fans. She will now forever live on.