Aaliyah (1979–2001)

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Aaliyah (1979–2001)

American R&B singer and actress. Name variations: Aaliyah Haughton. Born Aaliyah Dana Haughton, Jan 16, 1979, in Brooklyn, Michigan; grew up in Detroit; killed Aug 25, 2001, in plane crash in Bahamas, near Abaco Island; niece of Gladys Knight (singer).

Made NY stage debut as an orphan in Annie; performed in Las Vegas at 11 with Gladys Knight; debut album Age Ain't Nothing But a Number went platinum (1994) and included 2 top-10 singles, "Back and Forth" and "At Your Best (You Are Love)"; single "If Your Girl Only Knew" went double platinum (1996); nominated for a Grammy (2001) for Best Female R&B Vocalist for song "Try Again"; made film debut in Romeo Must Die (2000); played title role in Anne Rice's Queen of the Damned; album Aaliyah also went platinum. Sang on soundtrack albums for Anastasia, Next Friday, Music of the Heart, Sunset Park and Dr. Doolittle.