Born in New York in 1970, Mariah always knew that, without a doubt, she would be a singing star. When asked by her teachers to do her homework, she'd reply that it was unnecessary- she'd never need to go to college for her career as a superstar. Her mother's request to clean her room was answered similarly: when Mariah was a superstar, she'd have a maid.

Mariah, you see, might be the last person in the world to admit that her stardom was not inevitable. Mariah's father was black and Venezuelan. Her mother, the daughter of Irish immigrants, was an opera singer. Mariah took after her mother in the pursuit of developing her vocal talents.

Her seven-octave range is certainly, at moments, reminiscent of any number of divas. But her vocal styles are drawn from gospel and rhythm and blues. In fact, upon the release of her first couple of albums, Mariah faced charges that she was just 'another white girl' capitalizing on black music. She immediately confronted the issue in Ebony, telling them that her father was black. In addition, American music styles are themselves so much derived from black music that it might be hard not to record an album drawing upon those influences. Mariah says of herself, "My mother is Irish, my father is black and Venezuelan, and me- I'm tan, I guess."

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