Born in Huntington, Long Island, New York, in 1970, Mariah Carey (named after the song “They Call The Wind Mariah”) was introduced to the world of music at the age of three. That’s when her mother, Patricia Carey, a former New York Opera singer, began training her. Although Mariah completed 500 hours of beauty school after high school, she became a backup singer for vocalist Brenda K. Starr.
In 1988, Mariah met her future husband, Columbia Records executive Tommy Mottola, and he signed her to a recording contract. Two years later, Mariah released her debut album. This album earned him four number one singles. The first release of her second album also went to number one, making her the first artist to have her first five singles to the top of the Billboard singles charts.
Mariah also has the distinction of being the only female vocalist to have debuted three singles at the number one position. Michael Jackson is the only male performer to accomplish this feat, although he only has one.
On the charts to date, Mariah has had 34 Top 40 hits on the Billboard Weekly Top 40 charts. Eighteen of these have gone to number one. This links her to Elvis Presley for having 18 number one singles. The Beatles hold the record at 20. Here’s a look at Mariah Carey’s Top Twenty Singles, based on Billboard’s Top 40 Weekly Charts.
1.One Sweet Day – 1995 – featuring Boys II Men, this single spent 16 weeks at number one and holds the record for most weeks at number one for any single.
2. We Belong Together – 2005 – After four years without a hit, this song spent 14 weeks at number one and was ranked # 9 on Billboard’s 100 Greatest Songs of All Time.
3. Dreamlover – 1993 – This song spent 8 weeks at # 1 and topped 8 other Billboard charts.
4. Fantasy – 1995 – Mariah directed the music video for this song.
5. Hero – 1993 – A plagiarism lawsuit filed by a former Sly Stone limo driver, claiming the lyrics were based on a poem he had written, was rejected.
6. Vision Of Love – 1990 – Mariah’s first number one single was nominated for three Grammy Awards and won Best Female Pop Vocal Performance.
7. Honey – 1997 – one of only three singles to debut at number one on the charts, a feat that has yet to be duplicated.
8. Emotions – 1991 – Mariah’s fifth consecutive number one single, another record for her, came from the album of the same title.
9. Love Takes Time – 1990 – also from their debut album; Kelly Clarkson covered this song in 2003.
10. Touch My Body – 2008 – with this single at No. 1, Mariah achieved another record of spending 79 total weeks at No. ° 1. Elvis is 80 weeks old.
11. Don’t Forget About Us – 2005 – from his tenth studio album “The Emancipation of Mimi”, this single received two Grammy nominations.
12. Always Be My Baby – 1996 – Although this song spent two weeks at number one, it spent nine weeks at number 2, another chart record for Mariah.
13. Someday – 1991 – Brenda K. Starr delivered a demo of this song to Columbia Records executive Tommy Mottola, prompting Mariah to land a recording contract.
14. I Don’t Wanna Cry – 1991 – Another number one single from her debut album, “Mariah Carey” “.
15. Heartbreaker – 1999 – features guest artist, American rapper Jay-Z.
16. I’ll Be There – 1992 – with Trey Lorenz, this was a remake of the 1970 Jackson 5 hit.
17. My All – 1998 – Mariah first performed this song on “The Rosie O’Donnell Show”.
18. Thank God I Found You – 2000 – featuring Joe and 98 Degrees, this song was inspired by Mariah’s boyfriend at the time.
19. Shake It Off – 2005 – While Mariah’s single “We Belong Together” was at number one, this single peaked at number 2, giving Mariah the distinction of being the only female artist to hold the charts. Top 2 positions on the weekly charts.
20. Can’t Let Go – 1991 – This song, which peaked at number 2, ended Mariah’s series of five consecutive number one singles.
In 1990, Mariah received the Grammy for Best New Artist.
Mariah’s marriage to Tommy Mottola ended in 1998. In 2008, she married artist Nick Cannon (host of America’s Got Talent) and they are expecting their first child in the spring of 2011.
Mariah Carey continues to record and perform and released her second Christmas album in 2010.
