Artist Information: Mariah Carey

Mariah Carey was born in Long Island, New York on the 17th of March, 1970. Carey is an American R&B singer, songwriter, record producer, and actress and became the first recording artist to have her first five singles top the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. She graduated from Harborfields High School but was frequently absent because of her work as a demo singer for local recording studios. From childhood Mariah Carey has said how she has been influenced by many Soul and R&B Musicians such as, Aretha Franklin, Gladys Knight, Billie Holiday and Stevie Wonder. Her music contains many elements of Soul, R&B, Gospel and Hip Hop and she has expressed her appreciation for other artists such as Notorious BIG and The Sugarhill Gang. Carey’s lyrics contain many themes of spirituality, world hunger, racism, death and primarily love. She has been compared to many female solo artists such as Celine Dion and Whitney Houston but still has marked her own name and is a very successful worldwide platinum selling artist.