Mariah Australia [dot] com

INFORMATION: BIOGRAPHY, PROFILE & RANDOMNESS

Profile

Name: Mariah Carey
DOB: March 27th, 1970

Mother: Patricia Carey
Father: Alfred Roy Carey
Siblings: Morgan Carey (brother)

Allison Carey (sister)

Birthplace: Long Island, New York
Resides: New York City
Marital Status: Divorced

Favorite Singers: Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder
Favorite Actors: Marilyn Monroe, James Dean
Favorite Food: Salad with Clam Sauce

Most Prized Possession: Marilyn Monroe's White Ivory Piano

Biography

b. 27 March 1970, Huntington, New York City, New York, USA. This pop diva enjoyed an unprecedented string of US chart-toppers that helped establish her as the most successful female solo artist of the 90s. Carey is the third child of an Irish-American mother, a former opera singer turned voice tutor, and a half-Venezuelan father.

As a schoolgirl she began singing on R&B sessions in New York when she met keyboard player and songwriter Ben Margulies who became her songwriting partner and close friend. With Carey writing the melodies and most of the lyrics, and Margulies arranging the songs, they developed a simple blend of soul, gospel and pop that showed off Carey's amazing vocal range to the full. Carey struggled as a waitress until fortune smiled on her. While at a show business party, a friend of the singer thrust a demo cassette into the hands of Sony Music's US president Tommy Mottola. While driving home from the party Mottola played the cassette in the car and was so impressed that he immediately set out on a Prince Charming-like quest to find his Cinderella.

Carey was duly signed and her debut single, "Visions Of Love", was a smash hit. It became the first of five US number 1s. Managed by Randy Hoffman (whose roster also includes Hall And Oates) the success story proved swift and efficient in construction. In addition to providing four chart-topping singles ("Vision Of Love", "Love Takes Time", "Someday" and "I Don't Wanna Cry"), her debut album stayed on top of the US album charts for 22 weeks, as she duly picked up 1991 Grammys for Best Female Vocalist and Best New Artist, an extraordinary start to a career. The title track of Emotions gave Carey a record fifth consecutive US number 1. Subsequent number 1 singles included a cover of the Jackson Five's "I'll Be There" (from MTV Unplugged), "Dreamlover" and "Hero" (both from Music Box). In 1993, she married Mottola (they subsequently divorced in 1997). Her seasonal Merry Christmas featured another hit single, "All I Want For Christmas Is You". Her 1995 release, Daydream, exceeded all expectations and notched up sales of over six million in the USA within three months of release.

Some critics did question whether Daydream was a controlled exercise in vacuous formula writing, with little emotion or heart. Nevertheless, it produced three further huge-selling number 1 singles, "Fantasy", "Always Be My Baby", and "One Sweet Day", the latter a collaboration with Boyz II Men that topped the US charts for a staggering 16 weeks, the longest in history! Butterfly featured Carey's most adventurous collection of songs to date, and inevitably repeated the success of her previous albums. "Honey" and "My All" became Carey's twelth and thirteenth American number 1's, placing her behind only Elvis Presley and the Beatles in the all-time US singles chart. "When You Believe", a duet with fellow diva Whitney Houston taken from the animated DreamWorks movie The Prince Of Egypt, was a huge worldwide hit during 1998. Carey returned in October 1999 with yet another US chart-topper, "Heartbreaker", featuring rapper Jay-Z. "Thank God I Found You", featuring Joe and 98°, repeated the success the following February.

It is around this time that Mariah's situation in relation to her ex husband became intolerable, and due to the mishandling of several singles released by Columbia, Mariah left the label to pursue other offers.

In 2001, Carey signed a four album, $80 million recording contract with Virgin Records. Shortly before the release of her debut for the label, the soundtrack to a movie loosely based on her life, Carey was admitted to hospital suffering from mental and physical exhaustion. Her "breakdown" can be attributed to her busy promotional schedule, her work with Glitter and it's album, and the fuss created by having to re-record album tracks after several idea's were stolen by Tommy Mattola and Jennifer Lopez.

The album and film were one of the year's most high-profile failures and prompted speculation about the future of her Virgin contract. The rumours became fact in January 2002 when Carey parted company with the label. Around this time, Mariah began to talk about the deal and it's expectations, and vowed never again to be wowed by money.

Later in 2004 she signed a multi-album recording contract with Island Def Jam, and formed her own imprint, Monarc Music. The first release on the label was Carey's studio album, Charmbracelet, which told in a very emotional way, her return from her breakdown in 2001. The album was recieved with lukewarm review's, but managed a respectable amount of global sales. The following release, dubbed "The Remixes" was released in September 2003 with joint colaboration between ex-labels Columbia Records and Virgin, as well as current label Monarc/Island Def Jam. It was the first time in music history that 3 previously un affiliated labels had worked together on such a project. The album featured the greatest of Mariah's remixes to date, as well as her 2003 smash hit, "I Know What You Want" which featured Busta Rhymes and The Flipmode Squad.

In 2005, Mariah exploded back onto the music scene with the sassy party anthem "It's Like That" which went high up the charts all over the world. She then followed up the track with the sexy ballad "We Belong Together", which rocketed to #1 all over the world, giving Mariah her 16th #1 single in the USA and her second #1 in Australia (the first of course was Fantasy in 1995), and putting her in contention to be the only artist that can beat the Beatle's record of 20. "Shake It Off" was the follow up to WBT, and stalled at #2 on Billboard, while peaking at #6 in Australia. The fourth single, "Don't Forget About Us" became Mariah's 17th US #1, and peaked inside the Australian top 20. all four smash singles were taken from the multi-platinum #1 US album, The Emancipation of Mimi. Towards the end of 2005, Mariah recieved 8 nominations in the annual Grammy awards, and in February 2006, took home three, while stealing the show with a truly spectacular performance of "We Belong Together/Fly Like A Bird".

Her records have already sold nearly 200 million copies worldwide, establishing her as the biggest-selling female solo artist of the 1990s and the millenium. Who knows where 2006 will take this spectacular musician. Ladies and Gentleman, Miss Mariah Carey!

Randomness: Interesting Mariah Facts & Trivia

Mariah has no middle name.

Mariah's grandfather changed the family surname upon immigration to America. If he hadn't, Mariah's surname would be Nunez.

Mariah was born at 7:27 am, on Friday March 27th, 1970. She weighed in at seven pounds.

We Belong Together is Mariah's biggest hit in Australia. It stayed at #1 for three weeks.

Singer Brenda K. Starr was the person who slipped Tommy Mottola Mariah's demo tape in 1989. Now it is apparent Brenda K. Starr has become jealous of Mariah's success, choosing many times to publicly slander MC.

'Dont forget About Us' is Mariah's 17th #1 US single, puting her behind only the Beatles for the most #1's!

Mariah recorded music in the back of a shed before landing her record deal.

Music Box was Australia's #1 album of the year in 1994!

Mariah lives in a 3-story penthouse apartment in New York City. She has a view of the Empire State Building from her window!

Mariah owns many animals, most notable is her Jack-Russell terrior Jack, who has appeared in many of her music videos (Dreamlover, Boy (I Need You), and All I Want For Christmas is You to name a few) and her film 'Glitter'.

'Without You' and 'Against All Odds' are Mariah's only UK #1 singles.

Mariah is a primary sponsor of the Fresh Air Fund. In recognition, the fund named a career awareness camp in Fiskville, New York 'Camp Mariah'.

Mariah has told magazines that in 7th grade, she beat all the boys in her class at arm wrestling!