Aaliyah full Profile


Name: Aaliyah
Birth Name: Aaliyah Dana Haughton
Height: 5' 7"
Sex: F
Nationality: American
Date of Birth: January 16, 1979
Place of Birth: Huntington, New York, USA
Occupation: musician, actress
Place of Death: Marsh Harbour, Abaco Island, Bahamas
Date of Death: August 25, 2001
Cause of Death: Plane crash
Profession: musician, actress
Education: Detroit High School of the Performing Arts (graduated with a 4.0 GPA)
Place of Death: August 25, 2001
Death Date: Marsh Harbour, Abaco Island, Bahamas
Death Cause: Plane crash
Husband/Wife: R. Kelly (musician; married in 1994; that marriage was annulled due to Aaliyah's status as a minor, 15 years old and Kelly was mid 20s)
Relationship: Damon Dash (record executive; born on May 3, 1971)
Father: Michael Haughton
Mother: Diane Haughton
Brother: Rashad Haughton (filmmaker; born August 6, 1977)
Uncle: Barry Hankerson (manager, record executive; divorced)
Aunt: Gladys Knight
Claim to fame: Album: Age Ain't Nothing But A Number (1994)




*Aaliyah Movies


Romeo Must Die (2000)

American hip-hop culture collides with kung-fu action movies in this electric film from Andrzej Bartkowiak. When a Chinese businessman is recruited to establish a truce between two gangs (one Chinese, one American), he falls in love with the daughter of the American mob's leader (played by singing sensation Aaliyah). Hong Kong superstar Jet Li follows his supporting role in LETHAL WEAPON 4 with a starmaking turn as the revenge-seeking cop in this modern reworking of Shakespeare's ROMEO AND JULIET.


Queen of the Damned (2002)


This adaptation of Anne Rice’s best-selling novel follows the legendary vampire Lestat (Stuart Townsend), who has reinvented himself as a rock star in the contemporary American music scene. His music wakes Akasha (Aaliyah), the queen of all vampires, and inspires her desire to make Lestat her king. Akasha’s malevolent power is so great that all the immortal vampires must stand against her if they want to survive. Meanwhile, a young London woman with a fascination for the dark side (Marguerite Moreau) falls in love with Lestat.

*Award & Quotation

Quotation

* It is dark in my favorite dream. Someone is following me. I don't know why. I'm scared. Then suddenly I lift off, far away. How do I feel? As if I am swimming in the air, free, weightless. Nobody can reach me. Nobody can touch me. It's a wonderful feeling." (in an interview in July 2001 with Germany's "Die Zeit" newspaper that eerily predicts Aaliyah's death)
* It's hard to say what I want my legacy to be when I'm long gone."
* Her advice for aspiring artists: "Keep working hard and you can get anything that you want. If God gave you the talent, you should go for it. But don't think it's going to be easy. It's hard!
* Everything is worth it. The hard work, the times when you're tired, the times where you're a bit sad... In the end, it's all worth it because it really makes me happy. There's nothing better than loving what you do.
* If you put your mind to it you can be anything.
* The one I gave my heart to is my favorite song.
* Always be true to yourself.


Award

* American Music Awards: Favorite Female Soul Artist (2002)
* American Music Awards: Best Soul Album (2002)
* MTV Video Music Awards: Best Female Video, Try Again (2000)
* MTV Video Music Awards: Best Video from a Film, Try Again (2000)
* Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards: Best R&B/Soul Single, Rock The Boat (2002)
* Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards: Best Solo award, Rock The Boat (2002)
* Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards: R&B/Soul or Rap Song of the Year, Rock The Boat (2002)

Aaliyah QUOTES / QUOTATIONS






All I can do is leave it in God's hands and hope that my fans feel where I'm coming from.


At first, I was a little nervous with snakes, but once I started to handle them, I totally fell in love and felt an affinity toward them. They're very mysterious creatures. They live in solitude.


Because I came out as a singer, I took the time to get an acting coach.


Being around cameras on the set and getting comfortable with that environment can prepare you for something like a film.


Being in Australia, filming Queen of the Damned, was really cool, because I really got to take a break from the industry and be totally creative.


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.


I don't feel I made any sacrifices at all. I'm doing my best to juggle.


I don't think about my previous success. I'm happy that the work I've done has been very successful.


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 feel snakes are very complex creatures, but at the same time, they're sexy, too. They're dangerous, but quite beautiful.


I first dealt with snakes when I was in Australia and I did the photo shoot for the album. We used five pythons.


I have the time needed to support the album and tour.


I just let it work itself out, let it flow.


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 see myself as sexy. If you are comfortable with it, it can be very classy and appealing.


I stay true to myself and my style, and I am always pushing myself to be aware of that and be original.


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 took acting when I was young. I did a lot of plays. I sang. I had dance classes. I was trained in each thing.


I took the time out to give my all.


I want people to remember me as a full on entertainer and a good person.


I wanted to take a break after One in a Million to just relax, think about how I wanted to approach the next album.


I'm a total performer.


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.


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.


If I don't think about it, it won't drive me crazy.


If you want to go to the mall, you have to take security. But it's always cool. The kids are amazing.


In film, you are a totally different person than in the video.


In this business, it is very hard to have anything for yourself, because you become a public figure. That comes with the territory.


It was always part of the plan to move into acting.


It's hard to say what I want my legacy to be when I'm long gone.


It's really a sad story, and I liked that. The songs on this album talk about relationships in every aspect.


Keep working hard and you can get anything that you want.


Keep working hard and you can get anything that you want. If God gave you the talent, you should go for it. But don't think it's going to be easy. It's hard!


Music is for everyone to interpret in their own way. You may hear a song and feel one way about it, and I feel another.


My character's name is Zee. She's a funky girl very much in love with her boyfriend. It is cool to be a part of such an amazing film. It's like the Star Wars of our time.


My favorite song is I Care 4 U. I listened to it right when I finished One in a Million. It's a timeless, classic song.


Romeo Must Die came at the right time. It was the right vehicle for me.


Romeo Must Die happened, so I had to do that film and then do the soundtrack, then promote it.


Some songs call for a little more power, and I am able to go there, but my signature style is very laid-back and relaxed.


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.


There are relationships where a guy already has a girlfriend and he's got one on the side, too.


There are times I can't even figure myself out.


There are times in my life when I just want to be by myself.
Quotation of Aaliyah

There is a bit of acting involved when you get in front of a camera for a video. Even when you perform onstage, you're putting on a show.


There's a sweetness to it. My singing style is very soft, my signature is falsetto, with a breathy tone.


Well, I think that the image is a part of me. I wear the baggy pants, the hats, the whole nine. And you know, I may add a little for the excitement and the intrigue in the videos, but my family has told me that little air of mystery that surrounds me is for real.


When I did Queen of the Damned, I decided to record the album at the same time so that I could release it this year.


When I felt ready, I went out for Romeo Must Die. I am constantly honing my craft.


You have to love what you do to want to do it everyday.


Your life belongs to the public, and there are certain things you can't do anymore.

AALIYAH GOSSIP, NEWS, & TRIVIA


* ROMEO MUST DIE (2000): When Trish dumps her bodyguard at the record store and hides in the cab, the bodyguard comes out and yells, Trish! I'm gonna find your Aaliyah-lookin' ass! The character Trish is played by Aaliyah. At the time of her death, she and her boyfriend, Roc-A-Fella co-CEO Damon Dash, had plans to wed.
* Her third and final album has been called her best work. Rolling Stone gave it four stars.
* Was a great singer and deemed a role model.
* Majored in dance.
* Starred as Queen Akasha in 2002's THE QUEEN OF THE DAMNED.
* Modeled for Tommy Hilfiger clothing.
* Sang with Gladys Knight on stage at age 11.
* Was Homecoming and Prom Queen in her senior year.
* Wanted to perform a musical duet with Janet Jackson.
* Her first soundtrack song was from the movie ANASTASIA.
* Her middle name is Dana, not Dani.
* Was only 15 when she released Age Ain't Nothing But A Number.
* Her biggest single was Try Again.
* Was good at acting.
* Her self titled album hit #1 in the USA after her death.
* Her third album, Aaliyah, is dedicated to the memory of her grandmother, Mintis L. Hicks Hankerson.
* The tattoo on her lower back is a dove representing her deceased grandmother.
* Her career started at age 15.
* R&B singer R.Kelly discovered her at age 12.
* Completed filming of Anne Rice's QUEEN OF THE DAMNED.
* Her real name is Aeliyatt.
* Her favorite stuffed animal was named Lina because it was the one her grandmother gave to her. She took it everywhere.
* At age 9 sang My Funny Valentine on Star Search, in dedication to her mom Diane.
* Her first kiss was a disaster because she threw up in the guy's mouth!
* Her favorite color was pink.
* Drove a red viper.
* Wore size 6 shoes.
* Was very close to her grandmother.
* Played in a school production of ANNIE.
* Would sing in the bathroom with a brush.
* Favorite breakfast: French toast, waffles and pancakes.
* Favorite films: SILENCE OF THE LAMBS, ANY GIVEN SUNDAY and SLEEPLESS IN SEATTLE.
* Has a pet boa, her cousin bought it and her mom kept it.
* Her grandmother died of breast cancer.
* Had the double platinum selling One In A Million album as well as a production credit on the five times platinum ROMEO MUST DIE soundtrack, and has the #1 album in the U.S in 2001.
* Her best friend was Kidada Jones.
* Was the youngest child.
* Has weave in her hair.
* Favorite Athlete team: Giants.
* Favorite color: Black, Red, and White.
* Nicknamed Li Li, Baby Girl, Liyah.
* Started noticing she could sing at age 6.
* Favorite basketball team: Chicago Bulls
* Favorite jewelry: silver
* Favorite singer: Sade
* Was 25% Indian; her grandmother was full blood Indian.
* Although she was an adult she still relied on the approval and opinion of her mother Diane and brother Rashad.
* Her mom was also her friend.
* Her favorite song on the Aaliyah CD was I Care For You.
* Favorite junk food: Doritos
* Favorite author: Stephen King
* Favorite drinks: Surge and Pepsi
* Favorite animals: horses
* A few days before her death she told her mother she was having frequent dreams about flying in a dark place all alone, and crashing down to her death.
* Nominated for Best Villain at MTV Movie Award for QUEEN OF THE DAMNED (2002)
* Nominated for Best Female Performance at MTV Movie Award for ROMEO MUST DIE (2000)
* Nominated for Breakthrough Female Performance at MTV Movie Award for ROMEO MUST DIE (2000)
* Loved vanilla ice cream.
* Her dress size was 4.
* Was addicted to kozmo.com
* Only wore clothes that she knew her mom would like; she never wore shorts cause her mom didn’t like her to expose her body.
* Had a major thing for sweets.
* Had two Vipers, a black and a red one.
* Liked to collect sunglasses and stuffed animals, and also has a black out light in her apartment.
* Had 2 pets, one snake named Boots and a pet pug named Tour.
* Her grandmother gave her a toy orangutan.
* Wore contacts instead of glasses.
* Her birthday is a day after Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s
* Loved horror films.
* Her favorite track on her last album was the unreleased track.
* At an autograph signing in Texas, a fan fainted when Aaliyah kissed him on the cheek.
* Favorite place to eat: Roscos Chicken and Waffles.
* Had a pillow named Wilson.
* Had a personal trainer to keep in shape and gave up cheese and pork.
* Thinks martial arts and men who can fight are sexy.
* Said she loved her career and wouldn't trade it for anything in the world.
* What made her happy was knowing her fans went out and bought her albums.
* Favorite girl group: En Vogue
* Was a David Hasselhoff fan; one of her favorite shows as a child was KNIGHT RIDER which starred Hasselhoff.
* Loved beautiful but simple things.
* Wants her legacy to live on.
* PREVIOUS AALIYAH TRIVIA

Aaliyah's Pictures & Photos







Aaliyah stands for "The highest, most exalted one, the best" and that is what she has been through her short-lived music career. Aaliyah lived up to her parents' expectations as well as her name and at 22, she had a successful recording career while also having established herself in motion pictures and as a business woman.

Aaliyah found her soul in music at an early age and by 11, she was performing at a five-night stint performance with Gladys Knight in Las Vegas. Aaliyah was born on 16 January 1979 in Brooklyn, New York but raised in Detroit. At the age of 14 in 1994, she released her first album Age Ain't Nothing But A Number and it was a success. The first single from the album Back And Forth reigned supreme in the Top 5 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 and also became the No.1 R&B song. She followed it up with a remake of the Isley Brother's At Your Best (You Are Love), which reached the Top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100.

She was fast becoming a teen idol and her trademark baggy pants with oversized shirts became a sensation. 1996 saw her second record, which was One In A Million and the first single If Your Girl Only Knew went double platinum. The album had syncopated beats by Timbaland and Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliot's lyrics. The other people involved in making this album included Jermaine Dupri, J. Dibbs, Rodney Jerkins, Daryl Simmons, Vincent "V.H." Herbert, Craig King, and Kay-Gee. Aaliyah took the album live to Europe, Japan, and South Africa through her tours.

In 1998, Aaliyah produced another super hit with Are You That Somebody from Dr. Doolittle soundtrack. It was produced by Timbaland, and was extremely infectious especially because of the sound of a crying baby. The same year Aaliyah performed "Journey To The Past" for the motion picture Anastasia and it was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Song. Aaliyah also performed the song on stage in the Academy Awards Show that year.

Deviating from music, she stepped into the world of motion pictures with Romeo Must Die with Jet Li as her main co-star. The movie's soundtrack was a huge hit and went on to sell millions of copies. The next film on the line was the Queen of the Damned opposite Stuart Townsend, Vincent Perez, and Lena Olin and directed by Michael Rymer. She played the title role of Akasha, based on Anne Rice's Vampire Chronicles.

Aaliyah released a self-titled studio album in July 2001, which reflected her true potential and marked her growth as an entertained and as an individual. It debuted at number 2 on the US charts and sold over 2.4 million albums worldwide. Some of the smash singles include We Need a Resolution, More Than A Woman and Rock The Boat. At the same time, she performed in movies like Matrix Reloaded and Revolutions, Honey, and Sparkle, which is a true story based on interracial love. But on 25 August 2001, her sparkling career came to an end with a plane crash at Marsh Harbor, Abaco Island in the Bahamas and the music industry lost an exceptionally talented, and successful singer.

Aaliyah Makes Long Trip Worthwhile


Aaliyah took home two statues at the MTV Video Music Awards tonight. Prior to the broadcast, "Try Again" -- from the film Romeo Must Die -- won the honor of best video from a film, and the song later won her the coveted best female video award.

Aaliyah beat out newcomer Macy Gray (who took the award for best new artist) as well as multiple nominees Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, and Toni Braxton.

Aaliyah told the audience how important it was for her to be at the ceremony. "This is a shock. This is a big shock. I just started filming Anne Rice's Queen Of The Damned in Australia and my brother and I flew 22 hours to be here just in appreciation of the nomination. So, thank you so much."

She dedicated the award to her grandfather and the memory of her grandmother.

Aaliyah A Virgin?


Singer, actress, and Tommy Hilfiger model Aaliyah is reportedly moving to Virgin Records with Barry Hankerson's Blackground Records, which recently closed a deal with Virgin that includes a roster of new artists. Hankerson is both Aaliyah's uncle and her manager.

Aaliyah reportedly signed with Virgin after being impressed by the label's handling of the Romeo Must Die soundtrack, which features four new Aaliyah tracks, including her new hit "Try Again"; she also stars in that film opposite martial artist Jet Li and Delroy Lindo.

Virgin insists that Aaliyah is all theirs, but Atlantic Records claims the singer technically still owes them music: "They kind of eased out the back door," says one Atlantic source. Hankerson and Atlantic butted heads during their business relationship, and if he has his way Aaliyah will walk away from her former label without delivering a note. Furthermore, Atlantic has attempted to sign artists signed to Blackground, which is a violation of a standard "no raid clause." While there is some sadness at Atlantic because of Aaliyah's decision to go, no tears are being shed over the departure of Hankerson and Blackground. One Atlantic executive said he felt sorry for Hankerson's future labelmates at Virgin, who will now have to deal with him.

One in a Million:Aaliyah


Aaliyah's second album doesn't necessarily prove that she is indeed One in a Million, but it does showcase more depth and talent than her acclaimed debut. That's not only due to the greater variety of material on One in a Million, or to the way that her producers (Vincent Herbert, Jermaine Dupri, and many others) immaculately produce each track, but it is also due to the fact that Aaliyah's singing is smoother, more seductive, and stronger than before. It might not be the commercial juggernaut of Age Ain't Nothin' but a Number, but One in a Million is a more consistently satisfying album. ~ Leo Stanley, All Music Guide

Aaliyah Tupac Nd Left Eye Music Video


Aaliyah Tupac Nd Left Eye Music Video via Noolmusic.com

Aaliyah Fights In 'Romeo Must Die'

R&B singer Aaliyah drops her sexy ways during a pivotal scene in Romeo Must Die, a new action film that also stars Jet Li, DMX, Delroy Lindo, and Isaiah Washington.

In the movie, Aaliyah portrays Trish O'Day, the daughter of a crime lord, and she ends up battling an assassin with Jet Li's character Han Sing. Aaliyah studied kung fu when she was about eight years old and performs her own stunts in Romeo Must Die. She told LAUNCH about her first fight scene. "After the motorcycle chase, he gets into a fight with one of the motorcycle drivers and doesn't know that it's a female, and he realizes he can't hit a girl so what is he going to do? And she's kicking his butt -- I'm, like, 'Look, you better figure out something,' and he grabs me and uses me as a weapon to fight her. And it's not only a fight, but it's somewhat of a dance between Han and Trish, which is very beautiful, so it's one of the hottest scenes."

Aaliyahs Filmography


Soundtrack:

* 2000s
* 1990s

1. ATL (2006) (performer: "At Your Best (You Are Love)")
2. "Soul Food" (2000) TV series (unknown episodes)
3. Romeo Must Die (2000) (performer: "Come Back in One Piece", "I Don't Wanna", "Are You Feelin' Me?", "Try Again")
4. Next Friday (2000) (performer: "I Don't Wanna")

5. Music of the Heart (1999) (performer: "Turn the Page")
6. Varsity Blues (1999) (performer: "If Your Girl Only Knew")
7. Doctor Dolittle (1998) (performer: "Are You That Somebody?")
8. The 70th Annual Academy Awards (1998) (TV) (performer: "Journey To The Past")
9. Anastasia (1997) (performer: "Journey to the Past")
10. Sunset Park (1996) (performer: "Are You Ready")
11. A Low Down Dirty Shame (1994) (performer: "THE THING I LIKE")
... aka Mister Cool

Actress:

1. Queen of the Damned (2002) .... Queen Akasha
... aka Anne Rice's Queen of the Damned (USA: complete title)
2. Romeo Must Die (2000) .... Trish O'Day

Thanks:

1. State Property (2002) (in memory of)

Self:

* 2000s
* 1990s

1. Aaliyah: Making of 'Journey to the Past' (2006) (V) .... Herself
2. The Notorious B.I.G.: Ready to Die - The Remaster (2004) (V) .... Herself (segment "One More Chance")
3. Hip-Hop VIPs (2002) (V) .... Herself
4. Losing Aaliyah (2001) (V) .... Aaliyah
5. "Behind the Music" .... Herself (1 episode, 2001)
... aka VH1's Behind the Music (USA)
- Aaliyah: The Life and Death (2001) TV episode .... Herself
6. "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" .... Herself (1 episode, 2001)
- Episode dated 25 July 2001 (2001) TV episode .... Herself
7. 2001 MTV Movie Awards (2001) (TV) .... Herself - Presenter
8. Essence Awards (2001) (TV) .... Herself
9. MTV Icon: Janet Jackson (2001) (TV) .... Herself
10. BET Tonight Special: Aaliyah (2001) (TV) .... Herself
11. "CNN World Beat" .... As Herself (1 episode, 2001)
- Aaliyah (2001) TV episode .... As Herself
12. 2000 MTV Movie Awards (2000) (TV) .... Herself - Presenter
13. "The Rosie O'Donnell Show" .... Herself (2 episodes, 1997-2000)
- Episode dated 17 April 2000 (2000) TV episode .... Herself
- Episode dated 13 October 1997 (1997) TV episode .... Herself
14. "HBO First Look" .... Herself (1 episode, 2000)
- Making 'Romeo Must Die' (2000) TV episode .... Herself
15. 'Romeo Must Die' Movie Special (2000) (TV) .... Performer
16. MTV Video Music Awards 2000 (2000) (TV) .... Herself
17. The Making of 'Romeo Must Die' (2000) (V) .... Herself

18. The 70th Annual Academy Awards (1998) (TV) .... Herself - Performer
19. The Gift of Song (1997) (TV) .... Herself
20. "New York Undercover" .... Herself (1 episode, 1997)
... aka Uptown Undercover
- Fade Out (1997) TV episode .... Herself
21. The Magical Journey of 'Anastasia' (1997) (V) .... Herself - Presenter
22. Christmas in Washington (1997) (TV) .... Herself

Archive Footage:

1. The Burly Man Chronicles (2004) (V) .... Herself (extended version)
2. 101 Most Shocking Moments in Entertainment (2003) (TV) .... Herself
3. The 74th Annual Academy Awards (2002) (TV) .... Herself (Memorial Tribute)

Aaliyah Main

A star in the R&B world before she was even out of her teens, Aaliyah's promising career was tragically cut short by her death in a plane crash at age 22. Even with only three albums under her belt, she'd already earned a place as a talented trendsetter among the R&B elite. Following a successful transition to a more mature image, Aaliyah played a major role in popularizing the stuttering, futuristic production style that consumed hip-hop and urban soul in the late '90s. Her work with Timbaland, especially, was some of the most forward-looking R&B of its time, even while the competing neo-soul movement was gaining prominence. Aaliyah's death came on the heels of her third and most accomplished album, making it especially unfortunate that she was robbed of a chance to continue her creative development.

Aaliyah Dana Haughton was born January 16, 1979, in Brooklyn, and named after a Swahili word meaning "most exalted one." Her uncle, Barry Hankerson, was a manager and entertainment lawyer who was married to Gladys Knight for a time, and her mother, also a singer, enrolled Aaliyah in voice lessons before she'd even started school. Still very young, she moved with her family to Detroit, where she sang in several school plays. At age nine, she successfully auditioned for the TV show Star Search, where she performed "My Funny Valentine" (and lost). Two years later, thanks to her uncle Hankerson's connections, she spent five nights in Las Vegas performing as part of Gladys Knight's revue. In addition to his niece, Hankerson was also managing a rising R&B star named R. Kelly, and introduced the two in 1992. Kelly soon took Aaliyah under his wing and began writing and producing songs for her.

Aaliyah's debut album, Age Ain't Nothing but a Number, was released in the summer of 1994 and quickly became a platinum-selling hit on the strength of two smash singles, "Back & Forth" and "At Your Best (You Are Love)" (the latter an Isley Brothers cover). Both songs hit the pop Top Ten and went gold, and "Back & Forth" went all the way to number one on the R&B charts, while "At Your Best" fell one spot short. Late in the year, Aaliyah found herself at the center of controversy when rumors spread that the 15-year-old singer had married Kelly, who was more than ten years her senior. Although both camps were resolutely tight-lipped, documents later confirmed that the two had wed in the state of Illinois that August and gotten an annulment shortly thereafter. By the time the media buzz died down, the two had parted ways both personally and creatively.

In 1996, Aaliyah released her follow-up album, One in a Million, which signaled a newly emerging maturity. She worked with several different producers, most notably Timbaland, who co-wrote several tracks with his songwriting partner, Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott (soon to become a solo star in her own right). Several of these -- "If Your Girl Only Knew," "One in a Million," "4 Page Letter" -- became hits, with "If Your Girl Only Knew" going all the way to the top of the R&B charts. The Diane Warren-penned ballad "The One I Gave My Heart To" was also a Top Ten R&B hit, and One in a Million wound up going double platinum. In the meantime, Aaliyah graduated from high school (in 1997) and contributed several songs to film soundtracks. "Journey to the Past," from Anastasia, was nominated for an Oscar, and in early 1998 she had a major hit with "Are You That Somebody?" from Eddie Murphy's Dr. Dolittle (in which she also made a cameo appearance).

Aaliyah took her time recording a follow-up, and put the process completely on hold to start an acting career. She co-starred with martial-arts master Jet Li and rapper DMX in 2000's urban Shakespeare adaptation Romeo Must Die, and her accompanying soundtrack single, "Try Again," became her first number one hit on the pop charts that summer. Aaliyah subsequently completed filming on the Anne Rice vampire flick Queen of the Damned, playing the title role as a vampire queen, and was cast in a prominent role in the two sequels to The Matrix. Plus, she finally finished her long-awaited third album, with Timbaland again handling the most prominent tracks. Released in the summer of 2001, Aaliyah completed the singer's image overhaul into a sensual yet sensitive adult. The record received excellent reviews, and the first single, "We Need a Resolution," was a Top 20 R&B hit.

About a month after the album's release, Aaliyah traveled to the Bahamas to film a video for its second single, "Rock the Boat." On August 25, she and several members of the crew boarded a small twin-engine Cessna plane returning to the mainland. The plane crashed shortly after takeoff, exploding on impact; Aaliyah and seven other passengers were killed instantly, and the ninth later died at a Nassau hospital. Investigations into the crash showed that the plane had been loaded far past its weight capacity, and that pilot Luis Morales had recently been arrested for crack cocaine possession (traces of which, along with alcohol, were found in his system); furthermore, the charter company, Blackhawk International Airways, had not authorized him to pilot the craft in question. Naturally, the R&B community reacted with an outpouring of shock and sorrow, and Aaliyah became the singer's only chart-topping album, eventually going double platinum. "Rock the Boat" and "More Than a Woman" were both posthumous Top Ten hits on the R&B chart, and Queen of the Damned was a commercial success upon its release in early 2002, topping the box office in its first week. As details continued to emerge from the plane crash investigation, Aaliyah's parents filed suit against Blackhawk Airways, Virgin Records, and several other companies. At the end of 2002, the posthumous album I Care 4 U entered the charts at number three; it mixed some of the singer's biggest hits with a selection of unreleased material. The title track was a Top 20 pop hit, and "Miss You" topped the R&B charts early the next year. ~ Steve Huey, All Music Guide

AALIYAH CELEBRITY IMPERSONATOR, AALIYAH LOOK ALIKE, TAKISHA WRIGHT, JOINS THE TINA MANIA SHOW

Takisha Wright first started her career as Aaliyah celebrity impersonator Aaliyah look alike while performing at school. Says Takisha "after Aaliyah's tragic plane crash and unfortunate death so many people missed her, that's when I realized I could bring Aaliyah's memory back to life being a true life Aaliyah celebrity impersonator". With the dead on looks and moves of Aaliyah celebrity impersonator, Takisha is now performing as Aaliyah celebrity impersonator, Aaliyah look alike, in the Tina Mania Show. Takisha's performance as Aaliyah celebrity impersonator is an expression of her love for Aaliyah, capturing Aaliyah's spirit through dance and song she hopes that Aaliyah has gone to a better place. Takisha is current studying dance at Cal State Hayward and taking acting classes to pursue her celebrity impersonator career, in particular performing as Aaliyah celebrity impersonator, Aaliyah lookalike.

Tribute to Aaliyah



Real Name

Aaliyah Dana Haughton

Birth Place
New York, SUA

Brithday
16.01.1979

Deth
25.08.2001

When considering Aaliyah's track record, it is befitting that her name (Aah-Lee-Yah) means "the highest, most exalted on, the best." Indeed, Aaliyah's name foreshadowed her short but phenomenal career as both a recording artist and actress. By age 21, Aaliyah was not only a cultural icon but also a musical innovator and major motion picture actress. Born in Brooklyn, New York, Aaliyah was raised in Detroit. In 1994, at the age of 14, Aaliyah released her first album, Age Ain't Nothing But A Number. It was an instant success. The first single, "Back and Forth," was a Top 5 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 and a No. 1 R&B song. The follow-up single, a remake of the Isley Brother's "At Your Best (You Are Love)" reached Top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was No. 2 at R&B radio.

In 1996, Aaliyah released her multi-platinum second album, One In A Million. The first single, "If Your Girl Only Knew," went double platinum and contained Timbaland's signature syncopated beats and Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliot's lyrics. Jermaine Dupri, Rodney Jerkins, J. Dibbs, Daryl Simmons, Kay-Gee, Vincent "V.H." Herbert and Craig King were also involved with producing One In A Million.

In 1998, Aaliyah scored an enormous hit with "Are You That Somebody" from the Dr. Dolittle soundtrack. Produced by Timbaland and written by Static, the song is infectious, known for its clever sampling of a baby crying. Later that year, Aaliyah performed the song "Journey to the Past" from the motion picture Anastasia at the Academy Awards. Aaliyah made her motion picture debut in Romeo Must Die in 2000. Co-starring Jet Li, the film was a box office success and led to Aaliyah's huge hit record, "Try Again," which was produced by Timbaland. The Romeo Must Die soundtrack spent weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard soundtrack chart and went double platinum. Aaliyah's performance in Romeo Must Die earned her "Best Female Performance" and "Breakthrough Performance Female" nominations for MTV's 2001 Movie Awards." "Try Again" garnered two MTV Music Awards for both "Best Female Video" and "Best Video in a Film."

Following up on her box office success in Romeo Must Die, Aaliyah starred alongside Stuart Townsend, Vincent Perez and Lena Olin in the 2001 film The Queen of the Damned, directed by Michael Rymer. Aaliyah played the title role of Akasha, in the supernatural adventure based on the third novel in Anne Rice's Vampire Chronicles. Aaliyah's last studio album reflected her growth as a person and entertainer. The album, Aaliyah, released in July 2001, debuted at number 2 on the US charts and sold over 2.4 million albums worldwide. Aaliyah featured the smash singles "We Need a Resolution," "More Than a Woman" and "Rock The Boat."

On December 10, 2002, Blackground Records will release the posthumous album I Care 4 U, a definitive collection of Aaliyah's greatest hits as well as six unreleased tracks including the aptly titled single "Miss You." I Care 4 U showcases Aaliyah's pioneering sound, sultry voice and trend-setting style and is a continuation of Aaliyah's musical legacy and a chronicle of her life in music.

For The Record: Quick News On Eminem, Aaliyah, Panic! At The Disco, DMX, Beyonce, Britney Spears & More

Eminem has teamed with Nike to auction off a limited-edition series of Air Max sneakers to benefit the rapper's Marshall Mathers Foundation and NineMillion.org, an agency dedicated to protecting refugees worldwide. The partnership will see the Shady Records CEO design eight models of the popular shoe, and they will be available to bid on at Nike stores and via eBay. "We're always looking for new ways to try to raise money and awareness for the foundation, so when Nike approached us we jumped at the chance," Eminem said in a statement. "When we got the info on NineMillion.org, it made even more sense. Who wouldn't want to design their own line of Nikes? And to do it for charity makes it that much better." Only 64 pairs of sneakers will be made available, with each set autographed by the multiplatinum star. The four-week auction begins Thursday. ...

A candlelight vigil for Aaliyah will be held Friday night (August 25) in New York's Central Park at the weeping willow tree that was planted in the singer's memory. The memorial, being held five years after her tragic passing, will take place at 7 p.m. Services took place earlier in the day at Ferncliff Cemetery, where Aaliyah is buried. The Aaliyah Memorial Fund recently partnered with Zingy, which is devoting 100 percent of the proceeds from sales of Aaliyah ringtones and wallpaper to the nonprofit organization. Fans who want to make a direct donation to the fund or send letters can do so at MemorialFund.Kintera.org. ...

Panic! at the Disco frontman Brendon Urie got a rather rude welcome to the stage at the Reading Festival on Friday: a bottle to the face. The band had just launched into the opening chords of its first song on the main stage at Reading — one of the U.K.'s oldest summer festivals — when someone in the crowd launched a bottle that clocked him square in the kisser. Urie immediately collapsed and was surrounded by his bandmates and roadies before getting back on his feet. Urie was OK, and Panic finished their set without further bottle-related hijinks. ...

DMX has done it again. The unpredictable rap star, who was scheduled to perform for troops in Kuwait and Iraq on a United Service Organizations tour this week, failed to arrive for his flight on Wednesday, the organization announced Thursday. "We are extremely disappointed that DMX decided not to complete the tour he asked us to arrange for him," a USO spokesperson said in a statement. "[He] let a lot of people down." X was initially scheduled to depart on Tuesday, but the rapper's representatives asked to postpone the flight by a day. The next morning, however, X was a no-show. "DMX missed the flight," his management responded via e-mail. "[But] we did not anticipate that this would lead to the entire tour being canceled. He was extremely disappointed and saddened. This trip was planned with the greatest of intentions. He admires these soldiers and wants the troops and the USO to know that he will do anything to make it up to them." ...

If you like Beyoncé's "Ring the Alarm," you ain't heard nothing yet, says the track's producer, Swizz Beatz. "That's just one of the many presents I gave her for her B'Day," he said. "I have the most tracks on her album as a single producer, and just wait till you hear the other three. I've never heard a singer singing on tracks like this. It hasn't been done in R&B yet, and if she can pull this off, it's going down. We're taking stuff to the next level." ... Swizz promises something just as groundbreaking for the new Britney Spears album, which he's currently working on with songwriter Sean Garrett. "That's my partner in crime right there," Swizz said. "The Britney stuff, we're creating just for her. It's a lot of tempo, a lot of hard drums, a lot of sonic changes. It's just something that when you hear it, you get goose bumps. She's back for real." ... Also keeping Swizz busy with his beats is Jennifer Lopez, who's working with the producer on her upcoming ska-pop album. "It's coming out incredible," he said. "We're putting together some great things, and not what everyone's expecting. Think a little Jamiroquai, a little Sade. It's real feel-good music." ...

Beck has decided on "Cell Phone's Dead" as the first single from his new album, The Information, due October 3. Michel Gondry directed the video ... Aerosmith bassist Tom Hamilton will be on the sidelines when the band begins its Route of All Evil Tour with Mötley Crüe on September 14 in Holmdel, New Jersey. Hamilton, who just finished a seven-week course of radiation treatment for throat cancer, will be with his family until he rejoins the band in mid-October. David Hull, who played with Aerosmith's lead guitarist in the Joe Perry Project, will be filling in. ... Plenty of "American Idol" top-10 finishers have released albums, but a 13th-placer? Make way for Ayla Brown, 18, the basketball-playing almost-finalist from the most recent "Idol" season who announced Thursday — just hours after her "Idol" obligation lapsed — that she is releasing her debut, Forward, on October 17 on the Double Deal Brand Records label. According to the singer's Web site, the first single, "Know You Better/ I Quit," will be released on September 12. The album is slated to feature songs written by Grammy winner Diane Warren, David Eriksen (Clay Aiken, Lindsay Lohan), Ruby Amanfu, singer Jonatha Brooke and Phil Thornalley (Natalie Imbruglia's "Torn"). ...

A man who claimed to be the illegitimate son of producer/singer Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds pleaded guilty on Thursday to a misdemeanor intimidation charge for his role in trying to extort millions from the singer. According to the Indianapolis Star, John Travis Clark will spend three months in a work-release program and be on probation for six months after threatening to go on "The Oprah Winfrey Show" and announce he was Edmonds' son unless he was paid $20 million. Edmonds did not attend the hearing, but said in a statement, "I want to make it emphatically clear that John Clark is not my son. I do not know his mother. [He] sought to ruin my reputation by broadcasting his lies to the entire country, which would not only destroy my family but would resonate loudly in the music industry." ... Moby and John Digweed will headline Ultra.NY, a live DJ event scheduled for September 22 at Rumsey Playfield in New York's Central Park. Soulwax Nite Versions, Junkie XL, Benny Benassi, Boris and David Waxman are also on the bill. ... "I Trust You to Kill Me," a documentary following Kiefer Sutherland as a tour manger for Rocco DeLuca & the Burden in a jaunt through Europe, will hit select theaters beginning September 8 in New York and a week later in Los Angeles. Rocco DeLuca is the first act on Sutherland and Jude Cole's Ironworks label.

Aaliyah Crash Sparks Lawsuit

The families of two passengers who died in the plane crash that killed Aaliyah have filed wrongful death lawsuits against Virgin Records, its affiliated music and video production units, the plane's owner and the charter air company. The families of Eric Forman and Anthony Dodd, the hairstylists who had been in the Bahamas with Aaliyah for the filming of a video for "Rock the Boat," charge the label with placing profits over safety when choosing the charter company.

Nine people onboard the twin engine Cessna 402B were killed on August 25th when the plane went down at Marsh Harbour Airport in Great Abaco, Bahamas. Crash investigators cited excess weight as one of the main causes of the accident. On August 30th the Bahamanian Civil Aviation Department released a report stating that the aircraft had exceeded its maximum weight and that no problems were found with either the engine or the airframe.

The BCAD report indicated that after baggage and fuel the aircraft only had room left for 805 pounds, meaning that the nine people aboard the plane could have only weighed ninety pounds apiece to keep within the maximum takeoff weight.

Furthermore, the pilot, Luis Morales, had been charged with cocaine possession on July 7th. Morales had sixty days to report the incident to the Federal Aviation Authority, which could have suspended or revoked his flight certificate. Morales was still within that timeframe when he was killed.

As yet, no other legal action has been taken by the families of the other passengers. Dodd and Forman's families are seeking unspecified monetary damages.

"Now 8" Dedicated to Aaliyah


The upcoming Now That's What I Call Music! 8 compilation is being dedicated to the late R&B singer Aaliyah, who died on August 25th in a plane crash in the Bahamas. The twenty-track compilation, due in stores November 20th, will contain "Rock da Boat," a track from her latest album, Aaliyah, and a portion of the proceeds from Now 8 will be donated to the Aaliyah Memorial Fund.

The remainder of the eighth volume of the successful series will contain recent hits by the likes of Destiny's Child, U2, Blink-182, 'N Sync and others. Now 8 is the third volume of the series to be released this year. Now 7 hit record store shelves just three months ago, and has tallied 2.5 million sales to date.

Now That's What I Call Music! 8 track listing:

Destiny's Child, "Survivor"
'N Sync, "Pop"
Jennifer Lopez, "I'm Real"
Joe featuring Mystikal, "Stutter"
Janet Jackson, "Someone to Call My Lover"
Christina Milian, "A.M. to P.M."
Jessica Simpson, "A Little Bit"
Mandy Moore, "Crush"
Aaliyah, "Rock da Boat"
Usher, "U Got It Bad"
Backstreet Boys, "More Than That"
Gorillaz, "Clint Eastwood"
Wiseguys, "Start the Commotion"
JiveJones, "Me, Myself and I"
Smash Mouth, "I'm a Believer"
Sum 41, "Fat Lip"
Blink-182, "The Rock Show"
Fuel, "Bad Day"
3 Doors Down, "Be Like That"
U2, "Walk On"

Angelina, Aaliyah, Furlong in Hot Stuff

Three weeks after the death of 22-year-old R&B singer Aaliyah, there was another tragedy linked to the Bahamas plane crash, which also killed eight others. Carl Havetter, the FAA inspector who sources say gave the final test flight to Luis Morales - the pilot of the doomed twin-engine Cessna - has committed suicide. According to a source, Havetter killed himself on September 17 - "not long after it was revealed that he, like the owner of the plane, was tricked into believing that Morales had more flight experience than he probably had." An FAA spokeswoman said she wouldn't comment on whether Havetter was an employee, or on the cause of death. The plane crashed minutes after takeoff from Marsh Harbour airport - the National Transportation Safety Board said the aircraft was overloaded and out of balance.

A Tale Of Two Princes
Prince William was stalked by a camera crew during his first week at St. Andrews University in Scotland. No big surprise there, except that the crew works for his uncle Prince Edward. While other media left after the weekend of William's arrival at the school, Edward's Ardent production company, which was getting footage for an E! Entertainment series called The A to Z of Royalty, stuck around for two extra days. The 19-year-old heir to the British throne was so annoyed that he complained to his father, Prince Charles, who insiders say was "incandescent" with anger over what his younger brother's company had done. A Buckingham Palace spokeswoman tells Hot Stuff, "We were disappointed."

Angelina Aid
While most other Americans are donating to relief funds for the victims of the September 11 terrorist attacks, Angelina Jolie has just given $1 million to Afghan refugees. Jolie, who's a goodwill ambassador for the U. N. High Commissioner for Refugees, gave the cash after the agency made an appeal for $268 million to help Afghans fleeing the Taliban government. In August, the 26-year-old Tomb Raider star went to nearby Pakistan to visit the more than 3.5 million Afghans who live in camps there and in Iran.

Michael Lives!
Michael Skupin, who suffered second-degree burns after he fainted into a campfire during Survivor 2, must be counting his lives. On September 23, Skupin was in a small plane that crashed into the rocky shore of Lake Michigan. "I'm happy to be alive," said Skupin, who had been flying back from speaking at a memorial service on Mackinac Island in Michigan for the victims of the September 11 terrorist attacks. Skupin, 39, who was with his pregnant wife, Penny, and daughter, Emily, 3, escaped with whiplash, the worst of the passengers' injuries, after the 1977 Piper his friend was piloting was forced to make an emergency landing.

Clint's Bad Cut
Why did Clint Eastwood's jacket fit so poorly when he appeared on the America: A Tribute to Heroes telethon on September 21? One rumor suggested that the Dirty Harry star was packing heat in a shoulder holster in case anyone tried to make his day. Another tale making the rounds is that the 71-year-old Oscar winner has a bad back and the jacket was covering a brace he has to wear. "None of those stories are true," Eastwood's manager says. "It's not a normal suit or sports jacket he was wearing. It's a 'bulging jacket' - the kind you'd wear to a football game." Or maybe take to a tailor.

Edward Busted Again
Edward Furlong's road continues to be a troubled one. The 24-year-old actor, who last fall did a month's stint at the Promises rehab center in Malibu, California, for alcohol abuse, was booked in West Hollywood on September 25 for driving without a license and had his car impounded. But that wasn't enough to deter Furlong. At 3:15 a.m., just four hours later, Furlong was nabbed again. The Terminator 2 and American History X star and his actor girlfriend, Jolene Blalock, 26, were involved in a traffic accident on the Sunset Strip, and he was busted for driving under the influence, the same offense his ex-girlfriend Natasha Lyonne had been arrested for just a month earlier. Furlong told Us weekly last December, "My friends were like, 'Eddie, you're drinking too much' . . . and that was true." A spokeswoman for Furlong wouldn't comment.

Stripper Sheila
Sheila Kelley, who's married to The West Wing's Emmy-winning Richard Schiff, got hooked on a new hobby while making the movie Dancing at the Blue Iguana - stripping. "I have two kids, a husband and a dog. I bake cookies for the PTA and attend school concerts," says Kelley. Yet the 37-year-old actor, who has appeared on L.A. Law and Sisters, as well as in such films as Singles and One Fine Day, says she has become so keen on stripping that she had a stripper's pole installed in her husband's home office. Kelley teaches stripping classes twice a week to groups of 11 at a time and dances every day. "I've mastered around eight moves, from the corkscrew to the twirling helicopter to the drop-and-split," says Kelley, who claims she dances for herself but "if he's good, I dance for my husband."

Aaliyah Reaches No. 1


As expected, the tragic death of R&B singer and actress Aaliyah sent droves of fans to pick up her swan song, Aaliyah. The album shot from Number Nineteen to Number One with an increase from 62,081 copies to 305,911, according to SoundScan. The ripples were visible elsewhere in her catalog, as 1996's One in a Million shot from 716 copies sold the previous week to 16,218. And Aaliyah's sales were its highest tally in its seven weeks of release, handily topping its first-week sales figure of 186,893.

Elsewhere on the charts there was plenty of buzzing. If you've grown weary of the same eight to ten acts lodged in the Top Ten album sales chart, this chart's for you. From last week, only Alicia Keys' Songs in A Minor, Maxwell's Now, Now That's What I Call Music! 7 and Juvenile's Project English, held up to an onslaught of new debuts; the most drastic facelift the Top Ten has received all year.

Falling just short of Aaliyah's chart topping figure was the Queen of Hip-Hop Soul, Mary J. Blige, whose No More Drama fell just short of the 300,000 mark, and R&B crooner Brian McKnight and his star-studded Superhero took a bow at Number Seven. Hard rock made its mark with Slipknot's third album, Iowa, which sold a quarter million copies for a Number Three entrance and Fred Durst proteges Puddle of Mudd, who put their debut at Number Ten. Toby Keith proved that country music still has some chart muscle, as his Pull My Chain sold 119,504 copies to score a Number Nine debut.

And the debut hit parade continues: Afroman showed the power of the summer single, as his Good Times, featuring "I Got High," sold nearly 100,000 copies to land at Number Fourteen. Bjork's Vespertine (Number Nineteen), Wu-Tang Clan mastermind RZA (as Bobby Digital)'s Digital Bullet (Number Twenty-four), and Bone Thugs-N-Harmony rapper Krayzie Bone's Thug on Da Line (Number Twenty-seven) also registered solid first-week sales.

Other notable marks were reached by a disparate pair of country music-related releases. The O Brother Where Art Thou? soundtrack moved past the 2 million copies sold mark, while the Dixie Chicks' Fly crossed over the 7 million point.

Next week, doesn't promise as much new blood in the Top Ten, as System of a Down's Toxicity leads a more humble crop of rookies.

Aaliyah's Plane Too Heavy


Investigators looking into the crash that killed R&B singer Aaliyah have cited excess weight as one of the main causes of the accident. Aayliyah and the eight other people on board the twin engine Cessna 402B plane were killed on August 25th when their plane went down at Marsh Harbour Airport in Great Abaco, Bahamas.

On August 30th the Bahamanian Civil Aviation Department released a report stating that the aircraft had exceeded its maximum weight and that no problems were found with either the engine or the airframe.

The BCAD report indicates that after baggage and fuel the aircraft only had room left for 805 pounds, meaning that the nine people aboard the plane could have only weighed ninety pounds apiece to keep within the maximum takeoff weight.

Investigations into the crash have also revealed that the pilot, Luis Morales, had been charged with cocaine possession on July 7th. Morales had sixty days to report the incident to the Federal Aviation Authority, which could have suspended or revoked his flight certificate. Morales was still within that time frame when he was killed.

Artists Mourn Aaliyah


Near the end of Ludacris' set at Saturday night's Powerhouse concert in Anaheim, California, someone came onstage and whispered in his ear. The rapper then addressed the crowd: "Hold up. This is serious. We just found out R&B singer Aalyiah was killed in a plane crash." He then asked for a moment of silence from the stunned crowd. People turned and looked at each other in disbelief, thinking maybe they'd heard wrong. A trip backstage after his set confirmed the sad news: The twenty-two-year-old singer/actress and eight others had been killed as a plane carrying them crashed and burst into flames shortly after leaving the Bahamas for Miami. At a show that should've been a party -- with Ja Rule, Shaggy, Afroman, Nelly, Xzibit, OutKast and many more performing -- the mood backstage at the R&B/hip-hop fest was anything but celebratory. "For someone so talented, it's sad to think they're not going to contribute anymore to music or film," said Nelly, who was performing as part of the hip-hop crew the St. Lunatics. "We've only been in the entertainment industry for a year and a half, but we've had definitely had the pleasure of meeting her. Our hearts go out to her family." "We've been friends since '96," said fellow R&B singer Monica. "She was an easy person to like. I want her family to know we're here for her as artists, but this is bigger than the music industry. She was very talented, but more than that, she was a good person." Anthony Anderson, who appeared with Aaliyah in last year's film, Romeo Must Die, was also backstage. "She was a great friend and a great person," he said. "I think we're all at a loss that she's no longer with us." Ja Rule, who faced the difficult task of taking the stage after Ludacris' announcement, said it was something that was with him as he performed. "It's numbing. I got the news before I went on and I didn't want to believe it, but I guess if you're saying it, it must be true. It was definitely in the back of my mind as I was out there though. I loved baby girl. She was a sweet person." Rapper Ras Kass, who had appeared with Xzibit, said, "To be perfectly honest, I wasn't sure if it was true or not, so I prayed that it wasn't. I send love out to her family." The normally affable, accommodating Shaggy appeared especially distraught as he walked by the backstage area. "To be honest, I've never seen him this bummed," say his label representative. "I don't know if he'll be able to talk about it." STEVE BALTIN (August 27, 2001)

Aaliyah Dies in Plane Crash


Actress and R&B star Aaliyah was killed on August 25th when a private plane carrying her and eight other people crashed shortly after taking off from the Marsh Harbour Airport in the Bahamas, where she had been filming a music video. Aaliyah, whose full name was Aaliyah Haughton, was twenty-two.

According to authorities, the small Cessna plane, which was headed to Miami, experienced engine failure and went down just 200 feet from the runway, bursting into flames upon impact. Aaliyah was one of seven passengers declared dead at the scene, while two others died later from their injuries.

"Aaliyah's family is devastated at the loss of their loving daughter and sister," read a statement issued by the star's PR representatives. "Their hearts go out to those families who also lost their loved ones in this tragic accident."

The Brooklyn, New York-born Aaliyah began her recording career in 1994 with Age Ain't Nothing But a Number, a platinum debut by the then-fifteen-year-old singer, produced by her then-husband, R. Kelly. Two years later she released One in a Million, which featured production by Jermaine Dupri and Timbaland, and has reached double platinum status over the past five years.

Aaliyah appeared in her first feature film, Romeo Must Die, last year, starring alongside Jet Li. Her performance established her as a significant talent in a second entertainment field and helped her land a role in the sequel to The Matrix, which had yet to start production at the time of her death.

On July 17th, Aaliyah released her third album, Aaliyah. The album debuted on the charts at Number Two, selling 186,000 copies in its first week and it remains in the Top Thirty, with sales just short of a half million.

Artists Mourn Aaliyah


Near the end of Ludacris' set at Saturday night's Powerhouse concert in Anaheim, California, someone came onstage and whispered in his ear. The rapper then addressed the crowd: "Hold up. This is serious. We just found out R&B singer Aalyiah was killed in a plane crash." He then asked for a moment of silence from the stunned crowd. People turned and looked at each other in disbelief, thinking maybe they'd heard wrong.

A trip backstage after his set confirmed the sad news: The twenty-two-year-old singer/actress and eight others had been killed as a plane carrying them crashed and burst into flames shortly after leaving the Bahamas for Miami. At a show that should've been a party -- with Ja Rule, Shaggy, Afroman, Nelly , Xzibit, OutKast and many more performing -- the mood backstage at the R&B/hip-hop fest was anything but celebratory.

"For someone so talented, it's sad to think they're not going to contribute anymore to music or film," said Nelly, who was performing as part of the hip-hop crew the St. Lunatics. "We've only been in the entertainment industry for a year and a half, but we've had definitely had the pleasure of meeting her. Our hearts go out to her family."

"We've been friends since '96," said fellow R&B singer Monica. "She was an easy person to like. I want her family to know we're here for her as artists, but this is bigger than the music industry. She was very talented, but more than that, she was a good person."

Anthony Anderson, who appeared with Aaliyah in last year's film, Romeo Must Die, was also backstage. "She was a great friend and a great person," he said. "I think we're all at a loss that she's no longer with us."

Ja Rule, who faced the difficult task of taking the stage after Ludacris' announcement, said it was something that was with him as he performed. "It's numbing. I got the news before I went on and I didn't want to believe it, but I guess if you're saying it, it must be true. It was definitely in the back of my mind as I was out there though. I loved baby girl. She was a sweet person."

Rapper Ras Kass, who had appeared with Xzibit, said, "To be perfectly honest, I wasn't sure if it was true or not, so I prayed that it wasn't. I send love out to her family."

The normally affable, accommodating Shaggy appeared especially distraught as he walked by the backstage area. "To be honest, I've never seen him this bummed," say his label representative. "I don't know if he'll be able to talk about it."

Really Randoms: Aaliyah, Elvis


Producers are in a rush to begin filming Queen of the Damned, based on the third novel in Anne Rice's Vampire Chronicles, because if the cameras don't begin to roll by the end of 2000, the film rights revert to Rice. So come September, dishy R&B singer Aaliyah Haughton-- fresh from her role in the Jet Li flick Romeo Must Die -- will travel to Australia to take on the role of Akasha, a vampire queen who is awakened from her 6,000-year slumber by the music of Lestat, the vampire-turned-rock star. Tom Cruise, who played Lestat in Interview with the Vampire, won't be onboard for the latest chapter; instead director Michael Rymer snared Irish actor Simon Townshend after American Beauty's Wes Bentley backed out. Horror fanatic and former mortician aide Jonathan Davis of Korn will compose the score . . .


It's that time of year again. To hell with what wise men say, a glorious gaggle of Elvis fools will rush into Memphis this Friday for Elvis Week. While we're still two years away from the big quarter-century-post-death Elvis shindig, the holiest week in rock & roll is still a draw for tens of thousands of the jump-suited and mutton-chopped, as well as those who just dig his music. Festivities kick off Friday with a double feature of the King's celluloid (Jailhouse Rock and Viva Las Vegas) at the Orpheum Theater. The following day, a number of E's MGM co-stars will offer recollections of Elvis, also at the Orpheum. That evening (Orpheum again) Turner Entertainment and Graceland will premiere That's the Way It Is, the new cut of the 1970 MGM concert film, which won't air on the small screen until 2001. Sunday highlights include a gospel brunch at Elvis Presley's Memphis restaurant, where fans can eat while gospel singers perform tracks Presley made famous, another double feature that afternoon (Girl Happy and Speedway) and an Elvis Dance Party at the Memphis Marriott East that evening. On Tuesday, Aug. 15, the day before the King's last, there will be a 9 p.m. candlelight vigil that runs into the following day. Other activities to be scheduled include an Elvis Trivia Contest, an Elvis Art Contest and Exhibition, additional film screenings and various forms of live music. A big hunk o' fun to be had, indeed . . .


Online hip-hop community Okayplayer.com is hosting a two-month-long nationwide showcase. Although specific dates have not yet been confirmed by tour organizers, the tour will kick off Oct. 4 in Worcester, Mass., and will wrap up sometime after Thanksgiving in Philadelphia. Artists slated to perform on the tour include the Roots, Jill Scott, Mos Def, Dead Prez, Jaguar, Bilal Oliver and Bahamadia. Common will interrupt his European tour to join the Okayplayer line-up for spot dates . . .


Cypress Hill's "All Day Mind Opening Music Festival," otherwise known as Smoke Out, has announced the acts for the third-annual herbal affair. System of a Down , Pennywise, Long Beach Dub Allstars, Dilated Peoples , Redman, Eric Sermon, 311, Xzibit, Gangstarr, Medusa and SX10 are onboard, along with headliners Cypress Hill. The event promises to have a Massive Munchie Garden, Psychedelic Laser Show, tattoo and henna artists and fourteen non-stop hours of music. The show will take place Oct. 7 in San Bernardino, Calif., with tickets going on sale Sept. 1. For more details go to www.smokeout.net . . .


Everybody's a critic: Oasis were forced to leave the stage for the second time in a month on Sunday after drummer Alan White was struck by a rock hurled by someone in the 35,000-strong crowd at Portugal's Sudvest Festival. According to a rep for the band, Oasis were pelted with bottles and rocks from members of the crowd from almost the minute they stepped on stage, something the band's Ignition Management has called "utterly deplorable and thuggish." The band were in the final half hour of its set, when it became clear that they were in danger of getting hurt, prompting Liam Gallagher to demand the audience to stop, saying "We're here to play fucking music. If you don't fucking like it, we'll go play somewhere else where people do," before walking off stage in a huff, followed by the rest of the band. The management issued a statement condemning the behavior of the Portuguese fans, adding, "Do we have to wait until a musician is seriously hurt on stage before these attacks are condemned?" . . .


As the Democratic Presidential ticket of Al Gore and Vice Presidential running mate Joseph Lieberman presented themselves at a Nashville rally on Aug. 8, the vocal stylings of Jewel could be heard. The singer performed her hits "Who Will Save Your Soul?" and "You Were Meant for Me" at the event that made Gore's choice of the Connecticut Senator official. Despite the support, Jewel has no plans to play at the Democratic National Convention in Los Angeles next week . . .


Eminem's legal tangles will keep the rapper from performing in England at the end of the month. The artist also known as Marshall Mathers "does not have permission to leave the U.S. due to forthcoming legal matters," according to Polydor, his U.K. label, referring to his two trials, one for weapon possession and one for assault, from two separate altercations in June. Eminem was scheduled to perform at the Carling Weekend, which combines the Reading and Leeds Festivals Aug. 25-27 . . .


Bittersweet Motel, the Phish documentary show by Todd Phillips, will begin to crisscross the U.S. this month. The film will visit theaters in New York and California on Aug. 25 before venturing throughout the country. For a complete listing of screening dates and venues go to www.bittersweetmotel.com . . .


Having successfully collaborated on "Runaway," a track on the upcoming The Ecleftic: Two Sides to a Book, Wyclef Jean and Earth Wind and Fire returned to a studio two months ago. According to EWF's longtime publicist Rick Scott, the sometime-Fugee and Seventies soul legends re-recorded the track for EWF's forthcoming album, featuring vocals by Wyclef. EWF have also enlisted other in-demand artists to appear on the album, as well as to produce some tracks. According to Scott, the band has already recorded four tracks with Eric Benet, and three with the Roots, with Roots bandmember Ahmir Khalib at the helm. They're also due to go into the studio with R&B diva Angie Stone. Look for the as-yet-untitled album in stores early next year . . .


Prince, never shy about expressing his opinions, has weighed in on the Napster controversy. What concerns the former Artist is that he wants other artists to be compensated for their work, and not the record company bigwigs. The musician elaborates in an essay posted at his official Web site www.NPGOnlineLTD.com. Prince claims that downloading music ultimately leads the Napster user to buying the artist's CD in order to get the best possible version of the musician's work. "The real music lover looks 4 an MP3 of the song online, downloads it and burns it on2 a CD," he wrote in "Princespeak." "He knows that he doesn't have a perfect copy of the song (MP3 is, after all, a sound 4mat which does involve a certain amount of loss in sound quality), and it is clear, in his mind, that if the original album is ever released under the above-mentioned conditions, he will purchase it" . . .


Despite the jokes that 'N Sync's Joey Fatone doesn't get any girls, the zaftig singer has proven everybody wrong and teamed up with dishy Motor City teen trio Blaque to record a song for Bring It On, the teen comedy/drama about cheerleading (described as "Rocky with pom poms") which features the band in a small role, opposite Kirstin Durst. The single, titled "As Is," will be released later this month, to coincide with the Aug. 25 release of the movie . . .


The benefit album for the West Memphis Three, three Tennessee teens convicted for the murder of three eight-year-old boys in 1993, will be released on Oct. 26. Steve Earle, the Supersuckers (with Eddie Vedder), Tom Waits, Mark Lanegan and Joe Strummer with the Long Beach Dub Allstars are among the artists featured on the compilation. Head Supersucker Eddie "Spaghetti" Daly spearheaded the project, and it will be released on Aces and Eights, his imprint on Koch. The proceeds from the album will go to the appeals process of the three defendants who maintain their innocence, despite being portrayed as Satanists by prosecuting attorneys and convicted on a questionably obtained confession. The case was the focus of the 1996 documentary Paradise Lost: The Child Murders at Robin Hood Hills . . .


King and queen of the teen pop prom, Justin Timberlake and Britney Spears, pulled in their respective Hottie of the Year honors at this year's Teen Choice Awards in Santa Monica, Calif., on Aug. 6. Timberlake's honor was only trumped by 'N Sync's four music awards for Choice Single ("Bye Bye Bye"), Song of the Summer ("It's Gonna Be Me"), Choice Music Video ("It's Gonna Be Me") and Choice Pop Group. In addition to Female Hottie honors, Spears took home the Choice Female Artist award, while Sisqo won for Choice Male Artist. Other winners include the Backstreet Boys for Choice Album, Blink-182 for Choice Rock Group and Jessica Simpson for Choice Breakout Artist. The show will air on Fox on Aug. 22 . . .


Mike D went under the knife last week for shoulder reconstruction surgery. The injured Beastie Boy dislocated the shoulder in a bicycle accident the previous week. Doctors have told the rapper to keep his arm in a sling for the next four-to-six weeks, and they project a three month period before the shoulder is fully healed. The Beasties are also offering refunds for the cancelled Rhyme & Reason shows that were scheduled for this summer. Fans can get their refunds through Ticketmaster or all points of purchase. The group's official Web site claims that rescheduled tour dates will be announced in the near future . . .


After four years, Jakob Dylan and his Wallflowers are finally releasing their third album. Breach will be in stores on Sept. 26, with eleven new tracks, including a duet with Elvis Costello called "Murder 101." Other recognizable names on the album include Frank Black, Heartbreakers guitarist Mike Campbell, Aimee Mann and Jon Brion. Co-produced by Mann's husband Michael Penn and Fiona Apple manager Andy Slater, the first single will go to radio later this month, and the band plans both a North American and Australian tour . . .


U2 have jumped on the Jonas Akerlund band wagon, and hired the in-demand video director (who has worked with the likes of Madonna, the Smashing Pumpkins and Britney Spears) to direct a video for their forthcoming single "Beautiful Day." According to a report from Akerlund's hometown newspaper, Aftonbladet, the director has been discussing the project with the Irish superstars for the past few months, but apparently U2 have decided that it was finally time to jump in front of the cameras, and convinced Akerlund and his crew to come to Paris next weekend. "We're filming next week in Paris," said Akerlund, adding that the song is "jSvligt bra," which to the uninitiated means, "damn good." Akerlund refused to take any credit for the story line of the forthcoming video, instead revealing that it's "pretty much the band's idea, which I am to fulfill" . . .


Jimi Hendrix's estate won a battle for the guitarist's nom de Web. In a hearing last week, the United Nations Intellectual Property Organization ruled that Denny Hammerton of Minneola, Fla., must relinquish rights to www.jimihendrix.com to Experience Hendrix, headed up by the musician's half-sister Janie Hendrix. According to the ruling, Experience Hendrix owns and administrates "substantially all rights relating to Jimi Hendrix, including rights in his music, name, image and recordings." They had previously been operating the official Web site at www.jimi-hendrix.com. Hammerton, who registered the domain name in the name of the Jimi Hendrix Fan Club, insisted he had registered the name before Experience Hendrix registered its trademark. But arbitrator Marylee Jenkins overrode the Florida man's claims. Hammerton's pleas might have fallen on more sympathetic ears if he had been a first time offender. But last month, he was ordered to surrender www.jethrotull.com, when band members brought the case before U.N. arbitrators, complaining that he had attempted to sell it to them for $13,000 (pounds 8,700). The World Intellectual Property Organization ruled that he had set up the addresses in bad faith and failed to show a legitimate interest in them . . .


Carly Simon offered up a rendition of "My Funny Valentine" accompanied by President Bill Clinton on saxophone at a fundraiser for Hillary Clinton's Senate campaign on Sunday. Miramax mogul Harvey Weinstein hosted the $15,000 per couple fundraiser at his Martha's Vineyard home, tapping fellow Vineyarder Simon and Jimmy Buffett to perform for sixty-five guests . . .


In keeping with the newfound efforts of the Republican Party to attract Latino voters, the GOP Convention played the Robi Rosa-penned, Ricky Martin-performed track "The Cup of Life/La Copa de la Vida" just as George W. Bush accepted his party's nomination for President Aug. 3. But Rosa was not pleased. "It is perverse that the Republicans are trying to forge a connection to the Latin community with the use of my song . . . and by parading famous Latinos on stage," Rosa said in a statement. "Seventy-five percent of the delegates to the Republican convention earn over a million a year -- I don't see the connection at all. I can't wait to see what famous Puerto Rican they are going to pull out of their closet when they campaign in New York" . . .


Britney Spears and Eminem have just joined 'N Sync, Janet Jackson and Rage Against the Machine as performers at this year's MTV Video Music Awards. Former host Chris Rock, Sting, the Rock, Eve, 98 Degrees , Destiny's Child, Nelly and Ricky Martin are among the presenters. The show will be broadcast live from Radio City Music Hall in New York City Sept. 7 . . .

Aaliyah's Family Says It Didn't Know She Was Up For An AMA

It's never too late to say thank you.

The family of late R&B singer Aaliyah may have missed last month's American Music Awards, but the family issued a statement on Tuesday (December 2) thanking the producers of the show for naming the singer Favorite Female Artist.

During the ceremony, Aaliyah's award was accepted by Monica, who presented that category (see "50 Cent, Luther Vandross Take Home Multiple AMAs; Many Artists Skip Out"). The singer's family said it would have gladly accepted the honor had it known the singer was nominated. The Houghton family learned of the nomination during the broadcast and this week tried to get across the sentiments that would have been shared on the AMA stage.

"The family is deeply gratified that the public and the AMAs have, year after year, continually recognized Aaliyah's strengths and remarkable talents," the family said via its attorney. "They would like the public, the AMAs and Dick Clark Productions to know of their love and gratitude, and that they would be honored to accept the award on behalf of their beloved Aaliyah."

The statuette is the third AMA given to Aaliyah since she died in August 2001 when her plane crashed as she left the Bahamas (see "Cocaine, Alcohol Found In Pilot Of Aaliyah's Plane").

Beautiful Aaliyah Photo

Aaliyah's Label Can't Sue Video Producer Who Booked Ill-Fated Flight

New York court has ruled that Aaliyah's record company cannot sue the video producer who booked the private jet that crashed in the Bahamas in 2001, killing the singer.

The Manhattan appeals court reversed its June 2004 decision, which had allowed the company to file suit, saying on Thursday that only Aaliyah's parents had a right to sue for wrongful death (see "Aaliyah Killed In Plane Crash"), which they had already done in 2003 and received compensation for, according to The Associated Press.

The June ruling allowed Blackground Records to file suit because Aaliyah was considered the prime "asset" of the company and not just an employee.

According to the AP, Frank Penski, Blackground's appellate lawyer, said as of Thursday he had not seen the decision and did not know if his client would further pursue a lawsuit against the producer.

Missy Elliott, Lil' Kim, Tweet To Lip-Sync In Aaliyah Video

Missy Elliott, Lil' Kim, Tweet, Queen Latifah, Jaheim, Lyric, Lil' Jon and the Eastside Boyz, members of the Wu-Tang Clan and talk show host Montel Williams came out to make cameos during the video shoot for Aaliyah's "I Miss You" in Long Island City, New York, on Wednesday. (Click to see photos from the shoot.)

Directed by Darren Grant, the video will include segments from the late singer's previous videos and will also feature her famous friends lip-syncing to her song.

According to a spokesperson for the project, the rest of the video will be shot in Los Angeles soon, with Jamie Foxx, DMX, Quincy Jones and former MTV VJ Ananda Lewis confirmed to appear.

I Care 4 U, a collection of unreleased Aaliyah tracks and greatest hits, drops December 10 (see "Aaliyah LP Will Have Hits, Six New Songs, DVD Of Her Videos").

The video for "I Miss You" should be ready to air the next couple of weeks.

Aaliyah LP Will Have Hits, Six New Songs, DVD Of Her Videos

Details are emerging on a posthumous Aaliyah album that will include six previously unreleased tracks alongside the late singer's greatest hits.

Tracks confirmed for I Care 4 U include "Try Again," "Back and Forth," "One in a Million," "Are You That Somebody?," "At Your Best (You Are Love)," "More Than a Woman" and "I Care 4 U," according to a Blackground Records spokesperson.

Among the new songs on the disc, due December 10, is the single "Miss You," which premiered online last week (see "New Aaliyah Single Premieres Online"). Teddy Bishop produced the ballad, while Timbaland handled one of the other new tunes.

I Care 4 U is different from the tribute album Missy Elliott is organizing, which will feature Aaliyah's musical peers finishing several songs the singer was working on before she died last fall (see "Missy Elliott Promises Joint Album With Eve, Aaliyah Tribute LP"). A spokesperson for Elliott had no details on that project.

Included with I Care 4 U will be a DVD of the R&B star's videos. A portion of the proceeds will go to the Aaliyah Memorial Foundation.

Families Of Men Killed In Aaliyah Crash File Lawsuits

The families of two passengers who died in the plane crash that killed Aaliyah and eight others last year have filed lawsuits against her record label, Virgin Records, the Associated Press reports.

Family members of Eric Foreman and Anthony Dodd allege that Virgin was negligent in chartering the small plane that crashed immediately after taking off from an airfield in the Bahamas (see "Aaliyah Killed In Plane Crash"). The suits also claim the aircraft was overloaded and the pilot not authorized to fly the plane (see "Pilot Of Aaliyah's Plane Had Been Caught With Cocaine, Was Not Authorized To Fly").

An attorney for the families said Virgin "took profits over the safety of transporting people" by using a "fly-by-night" charter aircraft company.

A spokesperson for Virgin Records was not available for comment.

Reports from Bahamian aviation officials said the estimated weight of the plane, luggage and fuel was about 5,495 pounds, not including the weight of the nine occupants. Maximum takeoff weight for the twin-engine Cessna 402B is 6,300 pounds, which would leave only 805 pounds for the pilot and passengers (see "Report Shows Aaliyah's Plane Was Overloaded").

The families filed their lawsuits against Virgin Records America, affiliated music and video production units, the plane's owner, and the charter air company hired for the August 25, 2001 flight.

The families seek unspecified monetary damages and, according to their lawyer, "answers to why this tragedy occurred."

Aaliyah and her entourage were in the Bahamas shooting a video for the Grammy-nominated "Rock the Boat."

New Aaliyah Single Premieres Online

The first single from the new Aaliyah album premiered on the Internet on Monday morning and will be streaming for a week.

"Miss You" is among the three tracks currently featured on AOL.

The previously unreleased ballad is from the first posthumous Aaliyah project, titled I Care 4 U and due December 10, according to a Blackground Records spokesperson.

Portions of proceeds from I Care 4 U, which is also the title of Aaliyah's current single from her last, self-titled album, will go to the Aaliyah Memorial Fund, benefiting the Revlon UCLA Women's Cancer Research Program and Harlem's Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.

Cocaine, Alcohol Found In Pilot Of Aaliyah's Plane

The pilot in the plane crash that killed Aaliyah in August had traces of cocaine and alcohol in his body, the Bahamas Department of Civil Aviation announced Tuesday, according to the Associated Press.

An autopsy of Luis Morales III, who died in the accident with the singer and seven members of her entourage (see "Aaliyah Killed In Plane Crash"), showed cocaine in his urine and alcohol in his stomach. The department is still investigating how the substances might have affected the 30-year-old pilot.

Twelve days before the August 25 crash, Morales pleaded no contest to cocaine possession in Pompano Beach, Florida, and was sentenced to three years of probation (see ). His pilot's license should have been revoked, although it had yet to be at the time of the crash.

In the report released Tuesday, aviation officials also noted the Cessna 402B aircraft Morales was flying may not have undergone fuel-pump wiring modifications required three years prior to the accident. Particles and corrosion in the fuel filters also suggested routine maintenance had not been performed.

The department is still working to track down the owner of the plane and inspect the aircraft log, which should provide maintenance records.

An investigation shortly after the accident revealed the plane was at least 700 pounds overweight, a finding that also shows up in the latest report. Along with equipment used during the video shoot for "Rock the Boat" earlier on the day of the crash, the plane was loaded with one more passenger than it was certified to carry (see ).

Although the exact cause of the crash is still uncertain, Tuesday's report does rule out a few possibilities. The authorities said the plane's engine, airframe, propeller and fuel tank showed no malfunction.

In May, Aaliyah's parents filed a lawsuit against the owners of the plane, Virgin Records and several other companies, alleging negligence and recklessness caused the crash (see ).

Aaliyah's Parents Accuse Virgin Of Negligence In Crash Suit

Virgin Records and Blackhawk International Airways are among the companies accused of negligence in a lawsuit filed late Monday in Los Angeles Superior Court by Aaliyah's mother and father.

Michael and Diane Haughton allege that the companies' carelessness led to the death of the R&B singer, who was killed in a twin-engine plane crash after a video shoot in the Bahamas for "Rock the Boat" (see "Aaliyah Killed In Plane Crash").

An investigation determined that the Cessna 402B, which was operated by Blackhawk and chartered by Virgin, was close to 700 pounds over its maximum weight when it crashed shortly after takeoff, killing all nine people on board (see "Aaliyah's Plane Overloaded, Unbalanced, U.S. Report Says"). A separate report revealed that the plane's pilot, Luis Morales III, had pleaded no contest to cocaine possession less than two weeks before the fatal crash and was not authorized to fly (see "Pilot Of Aaliyah's Plane Had Been Caught With Cocaine, Was Not Authorized To Fly").

A similar suit was filed in February by the families of fellow passengers Eric Foreman and Anthony Dodd (see "Families Of Men Killed In Aaliyah Crash File Lawsuits"). Both were members of Aaliyah's entourage and crew.

Barry Hankerson, Aaliyah's uncle and CEO of her record label, Blackground, was unavailable for comment, as were Virgin's spokesperson and Blackhawk's lawyer.

Aaliyah's 'Matrix' Role To Be Given To Nona Gaye

After a long re-audition process to fill the late Aaliyah's shoes, "The Matrix: Reloaded" finally lives up to its name.

Nona Gaye, the daughter of Marvin Gaye who was recently seen acting alongside Will Smith in "Ali" and heard on last fall's "What's Going On" benefit single, has been chosen to play Zee in the two upcoming sequels to the 1999 sci-fi thriller "The Matrix," according to Variety. The role was originally set to be portrayed by Aaliyah, who had filmed portions of "Reloaded" before she died last summer in a plane crash (see "Aaliyah Killed In Plane Crash").

The character of Zee will be introduced in "Reloaded," but, it is reported, will have a much bigger role in the third installment, "The Matrix: Revolutions." Gaye will begin filming in Sydney, Australia, next week.

"Reloaded" is scheduled for a May 2003 release, and "Revolutions" will follow in November 2003.

Relatives Of Aaliyah's Bodyguard Suing For Wrongful Death

Less than a week after the families of two victims who died in the plane crash that killed Aaliyah and eight other passengers last year filed lawsuits against Virgin Records (see "Families Of Men Killed In Aaliyah Crash File Lawsuits"), another family is doing the same, according to the Associated Press.

The relatives of Scott Gallin, Aaliyah's bodyguard, are suing the record label and Blackhawk International Airways for wrongful death. The lawsuit, filed by Gallin's ex-wife, Becky, on behalf of their 15-year-old son, charges that Virgin Records and its affiliated music and video production units are liable for Gallin's death because they handled the arrangements for Aaliyah's video shoot in the Bahamas.

One allegation in the lawsuit is that Virgin should have hired a "competent" transportation broker and air charter company. Another is that Blackhawk allowed the pilot to fly the plane even though he was unqualified and he took off with the plane dangerously overloaded.

A spokesperson for Virgin Records could not be reached for comment.

Aaliyah, Six Months Later: #1 At Box Office With LP In Works

Six months to the day of her death on August 25, 2001, Aaliyah is still very much alive in the hearts and minds of her fans.

"Queen of the Damned," in which the late singer/actress has the title role, was king of the box office this weekend, grossing a little over $15 million to take first place. Meanwhile, the hits "More Than a Woman" and "Rock the Boat" — both released as singles after she was killed in a plane crash following the "Rock the Boat" video shoot (see "Aaliyah Killed In Plane Crash") — are showing no signs of letting up on radio or on video.

This summer, Aaliyah will continue to live on through her music with a still-untitled album, according to her label, Blackground. A spokesperson for the project says no exact date has been set and that it was too early to tell what material it would include.

An untitled "Aaliyah tribute album" is on the release schedule for Blackground's distributor, Universal Records, with a date of August 20, Universal said on Friday. The Blackground spokesperson clarified on Monday (February 25) that they have not yet determined what sort of material would be included on the record — if it would include Aaliyah's greatest hits and/or unreleased material, or if it would feature guests paying homage to the singer.

This summer, Blackground is re-releasing the last LP we heard Aaliyah on, Timbaland and Magoo's Indecent Proposal. She's featured on a track called "I Am Music" (see "Timbaland, Magoo Have 'Another Classic' Ready With Jay-Z, Ludacris")

Timbaland, who produced many of Aaliyah's most popular songs, said in October that he would be heavily involved in putting out some of the late singer's unreleased tracks. "I've got a couple of songs that aren't even on [Indecent Proposal]," he said. "I've got a lot of unreleased stuff on Aaliyah. So some of the stuff we'll put out, but it's not gonna be the sad Baby Girl. You can grieve but so much. The grief can kill you."

Aaliyah's self-titled LP, released in July, has sold over 2.06 million copies to date, according to SoundScan.

Aaliyah Crash Investigation Focuses On Charter Company's Owner

In searching for information about the crash that killed Aaliyah and eight others in the Bahamas in August, federal investigators have seized the business records and computer hard drive of the owner of the small charter company that provided the fatal flight.

Though the FBI declined to comment, as is their policy with all pending investigations, a 26-page affidavit filed in support of a search warrant charges that Gilbert Chacon, owner of Blackhawk Aviation, has been withholding airport and engine logs and records for the Cessna twin-engine plane involved in the accident (see "Aaliyah Killed In Plane Crash"). Chacon is also suspected of lying to federal investigators, concealing information, falsifying documents and obstructing and impeding due process.

Of particular interest to investigators is a clarification of Chacon's relationship with the Cessna 402B's pilot, Luis Morales III. Investigators also requested details regarding the origin of the flight, names of those who scheduled the flight and the plane's maintenance information.

Up to this point, Chacon had provided some information to investigators via his attorney, Michael Moulis, but had not produced the aircraft and engine logbooks as well as many requested documents, saying that they were not in his possession because he had leased the Cessna to Morales, which absolved him of responsibility for the aircraft.

Investigators now believe Chacon lied about the lease, the transfer of records and logs to Morales prior to the crash, and efforts to locate those records after the crash.

Morales' father, according to the affidavit, insists that the plane was never leased to his son and that Chacon has never inquired about any documents.

The pilot's belongings were searched during the process of retrieving his personal effects, and no aircraft logs were recovered. Morales' father also claims that his son had no means to lease a $250,000 aircraft and that he was paid cash on a per flight basis.

U.S. agents seized Chacon's business records from his Fort Lauderdale, Florida-area residence on Monday, but mostly found training forms and bank statements, according to news reports from Miami television station WSVN.

The affidavit contends that Chacon is concealing his responsibility for the plane, since Blackhawk Aviation did not have permission from the Bahamas to conduct commercial flights there, according to the Civil Aviation Department of the Bahamas. To fly without permission would be in violation of FAA policy.

Since the crash, Chacon — who in 1993 pleaded guilty to bankruptcy fraud involving another charter service, Caribbean Express — has given up his operating certificate.

Chacon and his lawyer were both out of town and unreachable for comment, according to their employees. Chacon has claimed in the past that he was not responsible for the employ of his pilot, since he had been fooled by Morales about the extent of his experience, which Chacon characterized as inflated.

Moulis even filed a complaint with the Federal Aviation Administration in a letter filed September 10 that accused the late pilot of falsely logging hours: "It is alleged that Mr. Morales inappropriately logged hundreds of hours as pilot in command when it is questionable whether he was even a pilot of the flight," the letter read.

In addition, Morales had recently pleaded no contest to cocaine possession and was not registered to fly for the airline (see "Pilot Of Aaliyah's Plane Had Been Caught With Cocaine, Was Not Authorized To Fly").