Mariah Carey
Biography
Mariah Carey, born on March 27, 1969, in Huntington, New York, is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and actress. Known for her five-octave vocal range, melismatic singing style, and signature use of the whistle register, she is often referred to as the "Songbird Supreme." Her mother was an opera singer and vocal coach, and Carey began singing at a young age, displaying a remarkable vocal ability. After graduating from high school, she moved to New York City to pursue a music career, working various jobs while writing songs and recording a demo tape.
Career Beginnings and Rise to Fame
In 1988, Carey's demo tape landed in the hands of Columbia Records executive Tommy Mottola, who signed her to the label. Her self-titled debut album, Mariah Carey, was released in 1990 and became a massive success. It produced four consecutive number-one singles on the Billboard Hot 100: "Vision of Love," "Love Takes Time," "Someday," and "I Don't Wanna Cry." This achievement made her the first artist since the Jackson 5 to have their first four singles top the charts. In 1991, Carey won Grammy Awards for Best New Artist and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for "Vision of Love."
Her success continued with her second album, Emotions (1991), with the title track becoming her fifth consecutive number-one single. This was followed by the commercially successful albums Music Box (1993) and Daydream (1995). Music Box is one of the best-selling albums of all time, with over 28 million copies sold worldwide, and Daydream became her second album to be certified Diamond in the US. Daydream also featured the hit singles "Fantasy" and "One Sweet Day," a collaboration with Boyz II Men that spent a then-record 16 weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100. In 1994, she released the holiday album Merry Christmas, which included the enduring classic "All I Want for Christmas Is You." This song has become one of the best-selling singles in history.
Artistic Evolution and Continued Success
With her 1997 album Butterfly, Carey began to incorporate more hip-hop and R&B elements into her music, a trend that continued on subsequent albums. The album's lead single, "Honey," became her third single to debut at number one on the Hot 100. After leaving Columbia Records and her marriage to Tommy Mottola, Carey signed a landmark contract with Virgin Records in 2001. Following personal and professional challenges, including the poorly received film "Glitter" and its soundtrack, she made a triumphant return with The Emancipation of Mimi in 2005. The album became the best-selling album in the United States that year and earned her three Grammy Awards, including Best Contemporary R&B Album. The single "We Belong Together" was a massive success, topping the charts for 14 weeks.
Later Career and Legacy
Throughout the 2000s and 2010s, Carey continued to release albums, including E=MC² (2008), which featured the number-one hit "Touch My Body." This single gave her the 18th number-one hit of her career, surpassing Elvis Presley for the most number-one singles by a solo artist. In 2019, "All I Want for Christmas Is You" finally reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100, 25 years after its initial release, becoming her 19th chart-topper. Carey has sold over 220 million records worldwide, making her one of the best-selling music artists of all time. Her numerous accolades include five Grammy Awards, 19 World Music Awards, 10 American Music Awards, and 15 Billboard Music Awards. She was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2022.