Aaliyah Dana Haughton (January 16, 1979 – August 25, 2001) was an American singer, actress and model. Born in Brooklyn and raised in Detroit, she first gained recognition at the age of 10, when she appeared on the television show and performed in concert alongside Gladys Knight. At the age of 12, Aaliyah signed with Jive Records and her uncle Barry Hankerson’s Blackground Records. Hankerson introduced her to R. Kelly, who became her mentor, as well as lead songwriter and producer of her debut album, Age Ain’t Nothing but a Number. The album sold three million copies in the United States and was certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). After facing allegations of an with Kelly, Aaliyah ended her contract with Jive and signed with Atlantic Records.
See more on Aaliyah at Wikipedia
Below are quotes from Aaliyah during here short life about acting, relationships, songs, life, sacrifice, success and more.
I’m involved in some action scenes, so they’ll train me for that. I’ll be working with my acting coach to prepare for my character.
It’s really a sad story, and I liked that. The songs on this album talk about relationships in every aspect.
Romeo Must Die came at the right time. It was the right vehicle for me.
The Matrix is top secret. There isn’t much that can be said right now.
There are certain things I want to keep to me. I don’t discuss my private life.
All I can do is leave it in God’s hands and hope that my fans feel where I’m coming from.
If you want to go to the mall, you have to take security. But it’s always cool. The kids are amazing.
I’m the interpreter. I’m the one who takes your words and brings them to life. I was trained to sing and dance and laugh, and that’s what I want to do.
I want people to remember me as a full on entertainer and a good person.
I think it’s important to take a break, you know, from the public eye for a while, and give people a chance to miss you. I want longevity. I don’t want to get out there and run myself ragged and spread myself thin.
I stay true to myself and my style, and I am always pushing myself to be aware of that and be original.
I see myself as sexy. If you are comfortable with it, it can be very classy and appealing.
I know that people think I’m sexy and I am looked at as that. It is cool with me. It’s wonderful to have sexy appeal. If you embrace it, it can be a very beautiful thing.
I don’t want to abandon one work for the other, and I don’t think I need to sacrifice anything to put my all into either one of them.
I don’t think about my previous success. I’m happy that the work I’ve done has been very successful.
I don’t feel I made any sacrifices at all. I’m doing my best to juggle.
I began to work the stage and get the audience into it. I also learned how to have fun out there. It is something I will never forget.
Because I came out as a singer, I took the time to get an acting coach.
