Aaliyah Dana Haughton,(prounounced Ah-Lee-Yah) was born in Brooklyn, New York on Jauary 16, 1979. Although she grew up in Detroit, Michigan.

Initially her early career was fostered by musical genius R. Kelly. She released her 1994's debut Age Ain't Nothing But A Number album when she was only 14 years old. Included were the US Top 10 singles "Back & Forth" and "At Your Best (You Are Love)".

She traveled to Kelly's home in Chicago for the sessions while she was still a student at the Detroit High School of the Performing Arts. She remained a "straight A" student throughout the first stage of her recording career, persevering with her education despite commercial success.

After breaking her partnership with Kelly, Aaliyah released 1996's superior follow-up, One In A Million, on which she worked with hotshot producer Timbaland, and Missy Elliot. Soundtrack work soon followed, with contributions to Anastasia ("Journey To The Past") and Dr. Dolittle ("Are You That Somebody?").

Aaliyah also began filming on her screen debut in Andrzej Bartkowiak's Romeo Must Die. "Try Again", taken from the movie soundtrack, went to the top of the US singles chart in June 2000. The following year's self-titled third album demonstrated a new maturity and confidence, with Aaliyah publicity bidding farewell to her teenage years and fashioning a bold new sound with collaborator Timbaland.

Tragedy struck in August 2001 when, after filming her second single "Rock the boat" ,a video in the Bahamas, Aaliyah and various members of her record company attempted to fly home. The small light aircraft crashed killing Aaliyah and her entourage. Her third album posthumously climbed to the top of the US charts.