Wednesday, August 25, 2010

One In A Million: RIP Aaliyah


Nine years ago today (August 25th), Aaliyah Dana Haughton, Anthony Dodd, Eric Foreman, Scott Gallin, Keeth Wallace, Gina Smith, Douglas Kratz, Christopher Maldonado, and Luis Morales died tragically in a plane crash that shocked everyone. At the time of the tragic accident, Aaliyah was just 22 years-old. She is remembered for her amazing singing voice and undeniable beauty.

Aaliyah was born on January 16, 1979, in Brooklyn, New York City, New York. She later moved to Detroit and was raised there. At age 12 she was signed to Jive Records and in June 1994, her debut album peaked at number 18 on the Billboard 200 and sold over three million copies in the United States. Aaliyah's debut single, "Back & Forth", topped the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart for three weeks and was certified Gold by the RIAA. I remember jamming to this song at age 8...


The successful single was followed with "At Your Best (You Are Love)" and "Age Ain't Nothing But a Number". In 1996, Aaliyah left Jive Records and signed to Atlantic Records. She worked with record producers Timbaland and Missy Elliott, who contributed to her second studio album, "One in a Million." The album yielded the single "If Your Girl Only Knew", which topped the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs for two weeks.


It also generated the singles "Hot like Fire" and "4 Page Letter". Aaliyah attended the Detroit High School for the Performing Arts, where she majored in drama and graduated in 1997 with a 4.0 grade point average and began her acting career that same year; she played herself in the police drama television series "New York Undercover". Around the same time, she contributed on the soundtrack album for the Fox Animation Studios animated feature "Anastasia", performing a cover version of "Journey to the Past" which earned songwriters Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Original Song. Aaliyah performed the song at the 1998 Academy Awards ceremony and became the youngest singer to perform at the event.



In 2000, Aaliyah landed her first major movie role in Romeo Must Die. Aliyah served as an executive producer of the film soundtrack, where she contributed four songs. "Try Again" was released as a single from the soundtrack; the song topped the Billboard Hot 100, making Aaliyah the first artist to top the chart based solely on airplay. The music video won the Best Female Video and Best Video from a Film awards at the 2000 MTV Video Music Awards. It also earned her a Grammy Award nomination for Best Female R&B Vocalist. The soundtrack went on to sell 1.5 million copies in the United States.


After completing "Romeo Must Die", Aaliyah began to work on her second film, "Queen of the Damned". She played the role of an ancient vampire, Queen Akasha, which she described as a "manipulative, crazy, sexual being". She was scheduled to film for the sequels of The Matrix as the character Zee. Aaliyah went on to release her eponymous album, "Aaliyah", in July 2001. Produced primarily by Timbaland, the album debuted at number two on the Billboard 200, selling 187,000 copies in its first week. The first single from the album, "We Need a Resolution", peaked at number 59 on the Billboard Hot 100. On August 25, 2001, at 6:45 pm, Aaliyah and various members of the record company boarded a twin engine Cessna 402B (N8097W) at Marsh Harbour, Abaco Islands, The Bahamas, to travel to the airport in Opa-locka, Florida, after they completed filming the music video for "Rock the Boat". The group was unaware that the plane was unable to hold all the equipment of the Cessna 404 they had initially flown in by. Aaliyah, pilot Luis Morales III, hair stylist Eric Forman, Anthony Dodd, security guard Scott Gallin, video producer Douglas Kratz, stylist Christopher Maldonado, and Blackground Records employees Keith Wallace and Gina Smith were killed. "Rock the Boat" is the last visual memory we have of Aaliyah, and what a beautiful memory it is...

19 comments:

  1. All these videos take me bck. they dont make em like her anymore

    ReplyDelete
  2. Nicely put together tribute. The good die young

    ReplyDelete
  3. I was suggested this blog by my cousin. I am not sure whether
    this post is written by him as nobody else know such detailed about
    my problem. You're wonderful! Thanks!
    Also visit my homepage zeolite pure

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hi, yes this article is in fact nice and I have learned lot of things from it about blogging.
    thanks.
    Feel free to visit my website - click the following web page

    ReplyDelete
  5. Hi! I could have sworn I've been to this blog before but after reading through some of the post I realized it's new to me.

    Anyways, I'm definitely glad I found it and I'll be bookmarking and checking back often!
    my webpage :: Easiest Ways to Become a Millionaire

    ReplyDelete
  6. Hello, i read your blog occasionally and i own a similar one
    and i was just wondering if you get a lot of spam feedback?
    If so how do you reduce it, any plugin or anything you can advise?

    I get so much lately it's driving me crazy so any assistance is very much appreciated.

    Here is my web-site - Kill My Day
    My web site - Splitting My Thoughts into Two

    ReplyDelete
  7. Thanks designed for sharing such a nice thinking, piece of writing
    is fastidious, thats why i have read it entirely

    Here is my web blog - silk scarf

    ReplyDelete
  8. I think that is one of the most vital information for me.
    And i'm glad reading your article. But wanna commentary on few general things, The web site style is wonderful, the articles is in reality excellent : D. Just right process, cheers

    Feel free to visit my webpage silk scarf

    ReplyDelete
  9. Hi there! Do you know if they make any plugins to protect against hackers?
    I'm kinda paranoid about losing everything I've worked hard on.
    Any suggestions?

    Stop by my webpage - buy instagram followers cheap

    ReplyDelete
  10. Hey very nice blog!

    Review my weblog - buying custom youtube comments

    ReplyDelete
  11. Wow, amazing blog layout! How long have you been blogging for?
    you make blogging look easy. The overall look of your site is excellent, as well as the content!


    Feel free to surf to my weblog Free Porn

    ReplyDelete
  12. you're in point of fact a excellent webmaster. The website loading velocity is incredible. It kind of feels that you are doing any unique trick. Moreover, The contents are masterwork. you have performed a great task on this topic!

    Also visit my webpage hidden cam porn

    ReplyDelete
  13. hi!,I really like your writing so a lot! proportion
    we keep in touch more about your post on AOL? I need an expert in this space to
    unravel my problem. May be that's you! Looking ahead to see you.

    Also visit my page - .com free picture porn (http://netvoice.be/dragbike/profile.php?mode=viewprofile&u=108925)

    ReplyDelete
  14. Excellent goods from you, man. I've understand your stuff previous to and you are just too wonderful. I really like what you have acquired here, certainly like what you are saying and the way in which you say it. You make it enjoyable and you still care for to keep it smart. I cant wait to read far more from you. This is actually a tremendous web site.

    Here is my site - get long first time anal xxx clip

    ReplyDelete


  15. There are various tapforyou and with the passage of time, these accessories are being improved. Nowadays the most commonly used http://www.tapforyou.co.uk/ are the one with sensors. The kitchen water tap with sensor have some significant features making them an appropriate choice for any shower mixer. The kitchen faucets with sensor run on a switch function. This switch is for hot and basin tap.

    ReplyDelete
  16. my ability to climb overhanging routes where a lot of body tension sunglasses is needed.
    It also hurts my ability to check out the route

    ReplyDelete
  17. It's amazing how simply changing your kitchen faucet will be like an exciting, stimulating effects found in your http://www.faucetsmarket.com/kitchen-faucets-c-22.html. The perfect combination of form and fashion, these devices have made homeowners worldwide acclaim.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Our collection of table and desk lamps combines both classic and contemporary designs. From the elegant Portabello lamp to the stylish Wharton Desk Lamp, our table lamps are available in a wide range of finishes. For the perfect combination of base and shade, why not use our lampshade builder to create your own bespoke design.
    http://www.lightingso.co.uk/13-lamps;
    La lampe de bureau palie astucieusement le manque de lumière naturelle. Vous avez l’embarras du choix, entre l’indémodable lampe de bureau architecte argentée ou la très contemporaine lampe à bureau à LED, noir et chrome. Pour une ambiance féminine, optez pour la lampe de bureau en métal effet dentelle ! Les adeptes du vintage ne résistent pas au charme de la lampe de bureau articulée en métal rouge.
    http://www.luminaireso.fr/8-lampes;
    Tischleuchten bei WohnLicht.com! viele Lampen sofort lieferbar 2% Rabatt bei Vorkasse · alle Typen auf Lager
    http://www.lampens.de/10-tischleuchten

    ReplyDelete