Mariah Carey (born March 27, 1970 in Huntington, New York) is an American popular music singer, songwriter, record producer, music video director, philanthropist, diva and actress, who rose to prominence in the 1990s. Carey's music has been influenced by rhythm and blues, pop, gospel, hip hop, dance, and rock and roll. She is a coloratura soprano, credited as having a five-octave vocal range. Carey's vocal trademark is her ability to hit high notes in the whistle register and she makes lavish use of melisma; her vocal swoops and trills are easily recognizable features of her sound.
Surveys have placed Carey as one of the best-selling female recording artists ever worldwide. She was also the most successful artist of the 90s, according to Billboard magazine, and her singles have spent more weeks at #1 than any other living artist in Billboard history. Carey's vocal style influenced a generation of singers who came after her, including Christina Aguilera and Beyoncé Knowles as well as many American Idol competitors.
