Aaliyah

About Aaliyah

Fans could tell, there was always something special about the young R&B sensation Aaliyah. Until her tragic death in a plane crash in 2001, Aaliyah maintained a mysterious image and a classic sense of style. During her career, she cut a series of technically innovative and vocally commanding urban R&B tracks. Aaliyah, who is related through marriage to soul icon Gladys Knight, was born in Brooklyn, New York but raised in the Motown capital of Detroit. The ambitious young singer appeared on Star Search at age ten, but didn't win. She also performed with Gladys Knight in Vegas, an experience that she would later cite as being the inspiriation for her to enter show business. Aaliyah's uncle had industry connections and when she was 15 he put her in touch with bedroom ballad superstar R.Kelly. Kelly mentored the young Aaliyah and helped produce her classic debut disc Age Ain't Nothing But A Number. It went platinum in weeks and leadoff single "Back and Forth" was a radio hit. Fans were tipped off to Aaliyah's depth on lyrically intriguing tracks like "Down With the Clique" and vocally challenging numbers like "Street Thing." There were also rumors that Kelly and Aaliyah had eloped secretly while recording the album. Although this was never proven, the two disentangled themselves both professionally and personally, following the release. In 1996 Aaliyah teamed up with the then-unknown production duo of Missy Elliott and Timbaland for her sophomore disc, One In A Million. The critically acclaimed album brought attention to the young singer's maturity with the gentle Diane Warren ballad "The One I Gave My Heart To" and the up-tempo If Your Girl Only Knew. Aaliyah's natural mystique caught the interest of Hollywood. She starred in the stylish action thriller Romeo Must Die with Jet Li. She also contributed the track Try Again to the soundtrack. Aaliyah's otherworldly voice danced in and over the futuristic, skittering beats, making the track sound like nothing else on radio at the time. Aaliyah released her darker self-titled third album in 2001, and the single "Rock the Boat" is an enduring testament to her legacy.