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Though Aaliyah Dana Haughton tragically passed away at the age of 22 in a freak plane accident, her legacy as an exceptionally skilled, charismatic, and successful entertainer still lives on to this day. Born in Brooklyn in 1979, Aaliyah’s mother was a singer, and encouraged her daughter to take singing lessons. A young Aaliyah’s first brush with fame came in 1991 when she appeared on Star Search, a TV talent show similar to American Idol. From there, she began working with a New York-based talent agent, performing as a supporting act in local shows and auditioning for movies and television shows.

At age 15, Aaliyah recorded her first album Age Ain’t Nothing But A Number with Blackground Records, a record label owned by Barry Hankerson. Barry’s record label first came to prominence when Barry - also Aaliyah’s uncle - began managing up-and-coming R&B artist R. Kelly. Much of the record was written and produced by R. Kelly, including hit singles Age Ain’t Nothing But A Number and At Your Best.

In 1996 - after illegally marrying R. Kelly for a brief period of time, using a forged birth certificate because she was underage - Aaliyah broke her ties with the artist and released her sophmore album, One In A Million. Featuring production from acclaimed producers Timbaland and Jermaine Dupri, the album went on to sell over 3 million units in the United States. Her third and final record, 2001’s Aaliyah, is widely considered her strongest and most mature album, combining her soul and R&B roots with a diverse range of musical influences. The Carribbean rhythm of Rock the Boat and the poppy trappings of I Can Be made the album a huge crossover hit, popular inside and outside of urban music circles.

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