Mariah Carey

Childhood

Mariah Carey was born in Huntington, Long Island, New York on March 27, 1970. Mariah was born with music in her blood, her mother, Patricia Hickey, was an opera singer and vocal coach. Mariah’s father, Alfred Roy Carey, an aeronautical engineer, and at the age of three Carey’s parent got divorced. Mariah lived with her two siblings and mother in Greenlawn, New York. Mariah passion for singing began around the age of three when her mother began giving her vocal lessons.

During high school Carey would work on her demo CD for local recording studios. After graduating and making a name for herself on the music scene in Long Island, Carey packed her bags and headed across the bridge to New York City. It was in 1988, when Carey met Columbia Record executive Tommy Mottola that she was given her big break.

Music

• Mariah Carey is best known for her pop and R&B music career that has carried over two decades.
• 1990 Mariah Carey co-wrote the songs for her self titled debut album, Carey’s first album was a hit yielding four number-one hits on the Billboard Hot 100 also leading her to win a Grammy for Best New Artist.
• 1991, Carey, released her second album, Emotions, which sold over 8 million copies worldwide. Her album, Emotions, paid homage to the Motown soul music of yesteryear, which was not as well expected by her fans.
• During the production of Carey’s albums her music executive Tommy Mottola began their much publicized courtship which led to the Cinderella like wedding in 1993.
• In 1993 Mariah Carey’s third album was released it was titled Music Box. Music Box produced such hits as, “Dreamlover”, “Hero” and “Without You”. The album spent a record 128 weeks on the Billboard 200 selling 9.16 million copies in the U.S.
• Late 1994, Carey released her fourth studio album. It was Carey’s first Christmas album, Merry Christmas, which produced her mega hit, “All I Want for Christmas Is You”.
• 1995 Carey released her fifth album, Daydream. It was with the remix of her first single, “Fantasy” that Carey was able to show her musical and creative talent by combing pop and hip hop. On this album Carey worked with Boyz II Men, Jermanine Dupri and Ol’ Dirty Bastard producing such hits as “One Sweet Day”, “Always Be My Baby” and the remix of “Fantasy”. By far, critics deemed this Carey’s best album yet which led Carey to six Grammy Award nominations.
• In 1997, Carey and Mottola split before the release of her sixth album, Butterfly. Carey felt that she was finally able to express herself in this album that was co-written by Carey herself. Carey sold more than 236,000 in the first week of sales which went platinum five times.
• In 1998 Carey stayed out of the spotlight lending her talents behind the scenes writing songs for such movies as, Men in Black and How the Grinch Stole Christmas.
• In 1999 Carey released her seventh album, Rainbow, which was more R&B and Hip Hop oriented. Rainbow produced such hits as “Heartbreaker” featuring hip hop ledged JayZ and “Thank God I Found You” featuring boy band 98 Degree’s. Rainbow went triple platinum selling over 323,000 copies within its first week.
• In 2002, Carey released her ninth album, Charmbracelet, which was poorly received. Rolling Stone commented, "Carey needs bold songs that help her use the power and range for which she is famous. Charmbracelet is like a stream of watercolors that bleed into a puddle of brown."
• In 2005, Mariah was back. After taking a break from the music scene she released her tenth album, The Emancipation of Mimi. Carey worked with music giants like the Neptune’s, Kanye West and Jermaine Dupri to help produce her mega hits like, “We Belong Together”, “Shake It Off” and “It’s Like That”. Carey was quoted saying, “very much like a party record”. The partied continued when The Emancipation of Mimi went six times platinum.
• In April 2008 Carey released her eleventh album titled E=MC² featuring the hot new single “Touch My Body”. This album was critically acclaimed by both the industry and the audience. E=MC² debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 with 463,000 copies sold, making it the biggest opening week sales of her career. With six number one albums, Carey is now tied with Janet Jackson in U.S. with the most number one albums for a female artist.
• Early May 2008, People Magazine reports that Mariah Carey has married actor and Nickelodeon star Nick Cannon in a romantic ceremony at her estate in the Bahamas. This is the second marriage for Carey and first for Cannon who was once engaged to Victoria's Secret model Selita Ebanks.

Acting

Television

• In 2002 Carey guest starred on the mega hit TV Show, Alley McBeal.

Movies

• In 1997, Carey began acting lessons to help prepare for feature movie audition.
• In 1999, Carey landed her first role in the romantic comedy, The Bachelor staring Chris O’Donnell and Renee Zellweger.
• In 2001 Mariah Carey stared on the big screen in, Glitter, a drama about a struggling club singer in the 1980’s. The movie tanked in the box office making only 5 million dollars.
• In 2002, Carey stared along side Mira Sorvino and Melora Walters’s playing waitress in a mob run restaurant in this independent film called, WiseGirls.
• In 2003, Carey was one of many musicians to appear in the Damon Dash film, Death of a Dynasty.
• In 2005, Carey was one of many musicians to appear in the movie State Property 2.
• In 2008, Carey is currently filming a movie, Tennessee, about the journey of two bother traveling to from Mexico to Tennessee.

Charity

• Fresh Air Fund
• Make a Wish Foundation
• Carey has volunteered for the New York City Police Athletic League
• Contributed to the obstetrics department of New York Presbyterian Hospital Cornell Medical Center
• Sales of MTV Unplugged was donated to various other charities.
• VH1's 1998 Divas Live in support of the Save the Music Foundation.
• America: A Tribute to Heroes fundraiser in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 attacks,
• She performed before peacekeeping troops in Kosovo
• Carey hosted the CBS television special At Home for the Holidays, which documented real-life stories of adopted children and foster families
• She has worked with the New York City Administration for Children's Services.
• In 2005, Carey performed for Live 8 in London
• Hurricane Katrina relief telethon Shelter from the Storm.