Aaliyah: Gifted Vocalist

In her short lifetime, Aaliyah sold more than 22 million records worldwide. Noted for several hit records, including seven number one R & B hits, one number one pop hit and seven top ten singles on the Billboard Hot 100, she also had a career as a model and motion picture star before her tragic death in a plane crash at the age of 22 in 2001. Related through marriage to Gladys Knight, the young singer appeared in Las Vegas next to the legendary soul singer. In a later interview with MTV, she spoke of this event as the moment in time when "she learned how to work an audience."

An exceptional student and dancer, she graduated the Detroit High School for the Fine and Performing Arts. At graduation, she was described by the principal as "the pride and joy" of the school. She continued her studies while working on her debut album and she often mentioned in her interviews that school was a top priority in her life. This further cemented her position as a role model to all of her many young fans.

Her death as well as those of seven others in August of 2001 is still a subject of controversy. The pilot, Luis Morales, was not only under influence of alcohol and cocaine according to the autopsy reports, he also did not have the necessary skill to operate the aircraft in the first place. Further, it was determined the plane was over its gross weight allowance by several hundred pounds. At first, some witnesses claimed that the passengers had been asked to leave some luggage behind, but later it was discovered that no one had been informed of the plane's excessive weight.

Whatever be the truth, the world lost a shining star in August of 2001.

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