Biography

Aaliyah Dana Haughton, known simply as Aaliyah, was a multi-talented American artist born on January 16, 1979, in Brooklyn, New York. She grew up in Detroit, Michigan, where she discovered her passion for performing at a young age. Aaliyah made her first national television appearance on the popular show Star Search when she was just 10 years old. She even had the opportunity to share the stage with the legendary Gladys Knight. At the age of 12, Aaliyah signed a record deal with Jive Records and her uncle Barry Hankerson's Blackground Records. It was during this time that she was introduced to R. Kelly, who would soon become her mentor, lead songwriter, and producer for her debut album, Age Ain't Nothing but a Number. The album was a huge success, selling three million copies in the United States alone and receiving double platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Unfortunately, Aaliyah's career faced a setback when she was involved in a controversial relationship with R. Kelly, which led to allegations of an illegal marriage. As a result, she made the difficult decision to terminate her contract with Jive Records and sign with Atlantic Records.