Alicia Keys facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Alicia Keys
|
|
|---|---|
Keys in 2013
|
|
| Born |
Alicia Augello Cook
January 25, 1981 New York City, U.S.
|
| Other names | Lellow |
| Occupation |
|
| Years active | 1996–present |
| Organization | Keep a Child Alive |
|
Works
|
|
| Spouse(s) | |
| Children | 2 |
| Awards | Full list |
| Musical career | |
| Genres | |
| Instruments |
|
| Labels | |
| Signature | |
 |
|
Alicia Augello Cook (born January 25, 1981), known as Alicia Keys, is an American singer and songwriter. She is also a talented pianist. Alicia started writing songs when she was 12 years old. By age 15, she signed her first record deal.
Her first album, Songs in A Minor (2001), was a huge success. It sold over 12 million copies around the world. This album also won five Grammy Awards, including for her hit song "Fallin'", which reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Her second album, The Diary of Alicia Keys (2003), continued her success. It sold eight million copies worldwide and earned her four more Grammy Awards.
Alicia Keys has sold over 90 million records globally. This makes her one of the world's top-selling music artists. Billboard magazine named her the best R&B/Hip-Hop artist of the 2000s. She has won many awards, including 16 Grammy Awards. Alicia is also known for her charity work. In 2003, she helped start Keep a Child Alive, an organization that helps families affected by HIV/AIDS.
Contents
Early Life and Music Journey
Alicia Augello Cook was born on January 25, 1981, in Manhattan, New York City. She was raised by her mother, Teresa Augello, who worked very hard to support her. Alicia's father is African American, and her mother has Italian and Irish or Scottish roots. Alicia felt comfortable with her mixed background. She felt she could "relate to different cultures."
Alicia loved music and singing from a young age. She remembered her mother playing jazz music on Sunday mornings. This helped her connect with music emotionally. When she was in preschool, Alicia sang in her school's musical Cats. She also played Dorothy Gale in The Wizard of Oz.
Discovering the Piano
Alicia found her passion for the piano at age six. She loved the sound and feel of it. When she was ten, a friend gave her family an old piano. This was very important for Alicia's music. It allowed her to practice and learn. She started classical piano lessons at age seven. She practiced six hours a day and learned from composers like Beethoven and Mozart.
At 12, Alicia wrote her first song about her grandfather. She realized music helped her express her feelings. Her mother encouraged her to try many activities like music, dance, and gymnastics. These activities helped Alicia stay focused. She continued studying classical music until she was 18. Alicia believes her classical training helped her become a strong musician and songwriter. It taught her focus, discipline, and how to create her own music.
Exploring New Sounds
At 12, Alicia went to the Professional Performing Arts School. She took music, dance, and theater classes. In her early teens, she formed her first music group. She kept singing and writing songs throughout junior high and high school. Alicia also started exploring other music styles. These included soul music, hip hop, and R&B. She loved artists like Marvin Gaye.
During her teenage years, Alicia spent more time in Harlem. She connected with the diverse culture there. "Harlem raised me in a lot of ways," Alicia said. It taught her how to be quick-thinking and strong. She also met her friend and future music partner, Kerry Brothers Jr., known as Krucial.
Music Career
Early Steps (1985–1997)
At four years old, Alicia appeared on The Cosby Show. In 1994, manager Jeff Robinson met 13-year-old Alicia. He was impressed by her soulful singing and piano playing. He saw her talent and charisma. Alicia had already written two songs for her first album: "Butterflyz" and "The Life."
Robinson wanted Alicia to understand the music business. He took her to meetings with record labels. At first, Alicia preferred being in a group. But after her group broke up, she decided to go solo. In 1995, Robinson introduced her to music executive Peter Edge.
Alicia performed for many record labels. Columbia Records offered her a deal when she was 15. She also finished high school early as valedictorian at 16. She started attending Columbia University while working on her music. But it was too much. Alicia decided to leave college after a month to focus on music full-time.
Columbia Records wanted to change Alicia's music and image. They wanted her to sing songs written by others. Alicia felt they didn't respect her as a musician. "It was a constant battle," she remembered. "They wanted me to be the same as everyone else." Alicia felt frustrated and sad. She realized she needed to create her own music. She started learning about music production and engineering.
Her partner, Kerry "Krucial" Brothers, suggested she buy her own equipment. Alicia started working on her music at home. She moved to Harlem and set up a recording studio in her bedroom. Later, they moved to Queens and built KrucialKeys Studios in their basement. This helped Alicia find her own sound. She composed most of the songs for her first album during this time.
Alicia felt Columbia Records had the "wrong vision" for her. She wanted to leave the label. It was a difficult fight, but she wanted control over her music. Peter Edge, who was now at Arista Records, introduced Alicia to Clive Davis.
Breakthrough with Songs in A Minor (1998–2002)
With Clive Davis's help, Alicia left Columbia Records. She signed with Arista Records in late 1998. Davis gave Alicia the creative freedom she wanted. He encouraged her to be herself. Alicia almost chose "Wilde" as her stage name. But her manager suggested "Keys" after a dream. She felt it fit her as a performer and person.
In 2000, Clive Davis left Arista and started J Records. He immediately signed Alicia. He understood she wanted to be true to herself. Alicia performed small shows and on television. Davis wanted people to discover her music naturally. He felt she was a "compelling, hypnotic performer."
Alicia performed her song "Fallin'" on The Tonight Show. Oprah Winfrey heard the song and invited Alicia to perform on her show. "Fallin'" was released in April 2001. It became a number one hit on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for six weeks.
Her debut album, Songs in A Minor, was released on June 5, 2001. It included songs Columbia Records had rejected. The album received great reviews. It blended classical piano with R&B, soul, and jazz. USA Today said Alicia "taps into the blues, soul, jazz and even classical music."
Songs in A Minor debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart. It sold 236,000 copies in its first week. It went on to sell over 6.2 million copies in the United States and 12 million worldwide. Alicia became the best-selling new artist and R&B artist of the year.
The album's second single, "A Woman's Worth", reached the top ten. Alicia won five Grammy Awards in 2002, including Best New Artist. She also won for "Fallin'". Alicia tied Lauryn Hill's record for the most Grammy wins for a female solo artist in one year.
Continued Success (2003–2005)
Alicia's second album, The Diary of Alicia Keys, came out in December 2003. It also debuted at number one on the Billboard 200. It sold over 618,000 copies in its first week. The album sold 4.4 million copies in the U.S. and eight million worldwide.
The lead single, "You Don't Know My Name", reached number three on the Billboard Hot 100. "If I Ain't Got You" and "Diary" were also big hits. In 2004, Alicia worked with Usher on "My Boo". This song became her second number-one hit in the U.S.
In 2004, Alicia released her book Tears for Water: Songbook of Poems and Lyrics. It was a collection of her poems and song lyrics. The book became a The New York Times bestseller. In 2005, Alicia won four more Grammy Awards. These included Best Female R&B Vocal Performance for "If I Ain't Got You."
In July 2005, Alicia recorded her MTV Unplugged session. She performed her songs with new arrangements. The album, Unplugged, debuted at number one on the Billboard 200. It was the first MTV Unplugged album by a female artist to reach number one.
Alicia also opened a recording studio in Long Island, New York, called The Oven Studios. She co-owns it with Kerry "Krucial" Brothers. They also co-founded KrucialKeys Enterprises, a team that helps Alicia create her music and works with other artists.
Film Debut and As I Am (2006–2008)
In 2006, Alicia won three NAACP Image Awards. She also received the Starlight Award from the Songwriters Hall of Fame. She voiced a character in the children's TV show The Backyardigans. In 2006, Alicia felt overwhelmed and went to Egypt for three weeks. She said it was "the most crucial thing I've ever done for myself."
Alicia made her film debut in 2007 in Smokin' Aces. She played an assassin. Her co-stars praised her acting. She also appeared in The Nanny Diaries that same year.
Her third album, As I Am, was released in November 2007. It debuted at number one on the Billboard 200. It sold 742,000 copies in its first week. This was her biggest first-week sales. The album sold three million copies in the U.S. and five million worldwide.
The lead single, "No One", was a huge hit. It was number one on the Billboard Hot 100 for five weeks. It became her third number-one single on that chart. "No One" won two Grammy Awards in 2008. Alicia also sang the theme song for the James Bond film Quantum of Solace with Jack White.
.jpg)
In 2008, Alicia starred in The Secret Life of Bees. Her role earned her a nomination for an NAACP Image Award. She also won another Grammy for "Superwoman."
New Music and Family (2009–2011)
In 2009, Alicia co-wrote and produced "Million Dollar Bill" for Whitney Houston. She was also featured on Jay-Z's hit song "Empire State of Mind". This song became her fourth number-one hit in the U.S. It won two Grammy Awards.
Alicia released her fourth album, The Element of Freedom, in December 2009. It debuted at number two on the Billboard 200. In the United Kingdom, it was her first album to reach number one. The song "Un-Thinkable (I'm Ready)" became her most successful single from the album.
In May 2010, Alicia and Swizz Beatz announced they were engaged and expecting a child. They got married on July 31, 2010. On October 14, 2010, Alicia gave birth to their first son. She recorded a song called "Speechless" for him.
In June 2011, her first album, Songs in A Minor, was re-released for its 10th anniversary. Alicia went on a special tour called Piano & I: A One Night Only Event With Alicia Keys. She performed only with her piano. A wax figure of Alicia was also unveiled at Madame Tussauds New York.
Alicia also directed a short film called Five in 2011. It was a documentary about five women with breast cancer. In October 2011, Alicia's record label, J Records, merged with RCA Records. Alicia now releases her music under RCA Records.
Girl on Fire and More (2012–2015)
Alicia released her fifth album, Girl on Fire, on November 27, 2012. She said she wanted the album to "liberate" and "empower" her fans. The album's title track, "Girl on Fire", was the lead single. It reached number eleven on the Billboard Hot 100.
In September 2012, Alicia worked with Reebok to create her own sneaker collection. She also partnered with Bento Box Interactive to create a children's mobile app called "The Journals of Mama Mae and LeeLee." It was about a young girl and her wise grandmother.
In January 2013, Alicia became the Global Creative Director for BlackBerry. She worked with them for about a year. In 2014, Alicia worked with Kendrick Lamar on "It's On Again" for The Amazing Spider-Man 2 soundtrack.
On September 8, 2014, Alicia released a new song called "We Are Here". She shared the music video on Facebook and explained her inspiration for the song. Alicia also announced she was releasing a series of children's books. The first book was Blue Moon: From the Journals of MaMa Mae and LeeLee. Alicia gave birth to her second son on December 27, 2014. In 2015, Alicia played the character Skye Summers in the TV series Empire.
Here and The Voice (2016–2018)
On March 25, 2016, Alicia was announced as a new coach on Season 11 of The Voice. She later won Season 12 with her artist Chris Blue. In May 2016, Alicia released "In Common" and performed it at the 2016 UEFA Champions League Final.
On World Refugee Day in June 2016, Alicia released a short film called Let Me In. It showed the refugee crisis happening in the United States. In October 2016, she released "Blended Family (What You Do for Love)" featuring A$AP Rocky. Her album Here was released on November 4. It reached number two on the Billboard 200.
In December 2017, Alicia appeared on Eminem's album Revival. She also featured on songs by Justin Timberlake and James Bay. On December 6, 2018, Alicia spoke at the Billboard Women in Music event. She talked about her new non-profit organization, "She Is the Music." This group helps women in the music industry.
Recent Works (2019–Present)
On January 15, 2019, Alicia Keys was announced as the host of the 61st Annual Grammy Awards. She was the first woman to host the show in 14 years. She hosted again in 2020. In September 2019, Alicia released "Show Me Love" with Miguel. The song was a success on US Urban music charts.
Her seventh album, Alicia, was released on September 18, 2020. It debuted at number four on the Billboard 200. In October 2020, Alicia released "A Beautiful Noise" with Brandi Carlile to encourage people to vote.
Alicia released her memoir More Myself: A Journey on March 31, 2020. In September 2020, she launched her lifestyle brand, Keys Soulcare. In May 2021, Alicia was featured on DMX's album Exodus. To celebrate 20 years of Songs in A Minor, she performed songs from the album at the 2021 Billboard Music Awards.
On September 9, 2021, Alicia released "Lala (Unlocked)" featuring Swae Lee. This song was from her eighth album, Keys, released on December 10, 2021. It was a double album with both produced and simpler versions of new songs.
After her contract with RCA Records ended, Alicia released her ninth album, Santa Baby, on November 4, 2022. It was her first Christmas album and her first release as an independent artist.
Alicia wrote, composed, and produced a musical called Hell's Kitchen. It premiered in New York City in November 2023 and moved to Broadway in March 2024. In February 2024, Alicia performed at the Super Bowl LVIII halftime show with Usher. She sang "If I Ain't Got You" and "My Boo."
Artistry and Style
Alicia Keys is known for being a talented singer, songwriter, musician, and producer. She is praised for her unique style and maturity. The Times said her first album "spoke from a soul that seemed way beyond its years." Billboard noted she was a different kind of pop singer who showed "true musicianship."
Alicia is also known for controlling her own music and image. She fought for her creative freedom since she was 15. Rolling Stone said she brought back the idea of an independent R&B singer-songwriter. She connects different generations with her music.
Alicia is admired for her powerful voice and emotional performances. Jam! praised her "crooning" and "warm" vocals. The Guardian said she "sings with devastating allure." Her voice can go from a soft whisper to a strong roar. Alicia has a three-octave vocal range. In 2023, Rolling Stone ranked her among the 200 Greatest Singers of All Time.
Alicia's music is influenced by artists like Whitney Houston, Sade, Aretha Franklin, and Stevie Wonder. As a trained classical pianist, she uses the piano in most of her songs. Her music blends gospel, R&B, jazz, blues, and hip hop. The Guardian noted her skill at mixing "ruff hip-hop rhythms" with "heartfelt, soulful R&B."
Her songs often talk about love, heartbreak, female strength, hope, and life experiences. They also touch on social issues. The New York Times noted that Alicia's songs explore the challenges of being a woman in the hip-hop era.
Legacy and Impact
Alicia Keys is sometimes called the "Queen of R&B." Time magazine has listed her twice among the "100 most influential people." Journalist Christopher John Farley wrote that her musical talent sets her apart. She can take music from the past and create something new and personal.
VH1 has included Alicia in their "100 Greatest Artists of All Time" list. Billboard placed her at number 27 on their "35 Greatest R&B Artists of All Time" list in 2015. She has received many honors for her music.
Rolling Stone said Alicia was "something new" in popular music. She connected different generations with her mix of hip-hop style, old-school soul, and classical piano skills. AllMusic noted that her debut album inspired many new talented female singer-songwriters.
The Recording Academy says Alicia goes beyond music genres. She blends her classical background with gospel, jazz, blues, and pop. BBC's Babita Sharma said Alicia has greatly impacted the R&B-soul-jazz sound of the last two decades.
Alicia Keys has inspired many artists, including Adele, Rihanna, Janelle Monáe, and H.E.R..
Achievements
Alicia Keys is one of the world's best-selling music artists. She has sold over 17.8 million albums and 21.9 million digital songs in the U.S. Her singles "No One" and "Empire State of Mind" are among the list of best-selling singles worldwide.
Billboard ranked Alicia as the fifth-most successful artist of the 2000s. She was also the top R&B artist of that decade. She has had 4 number-one singles on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. She also had 8 number-one singles on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. In 2008, she set a Guinness World Record for being the first artist to replace herself at number one on that chart.
Alicia has won many awards. These include 16 Grammy Awards, 17 NAACP Image Awards, and 9 Billboard Music Awards. In 2002, she won 5 Grammy Awards in one night. In 2005, she received the Songwriters Hall of Fame Hal David Starlight Award. This award honors talented songwriters who are making a big impact.
Charity Work and Activism
Alicia Keys has used her voice to support many causes. After the September 11 attacks, she performed at the America: A Tribute to Heroes concert. She also protested at New York City Hall against cuts to student education. Alicia has given money to Frum tha Ground Up, an organization that helps children with scholarships.
Alicia is a co-founder and Global Ambassador for Keep a Child Alive. This organization helps families with HIV and AIDS in Africa and India. Alicia saw the impact of the AIDS epidemic during a trip to South Africa. She visited clinics and saw the lack of resources. She traveled to other African countries to promote care for children with AIDS. Alicia also hosts The Black Ball, an annual event to raise money for Keep a Child Alive.
In 2005, Alicia performed at the Live 8 concerts. These concerts raised awareness about poverty in Africa. She also performed at benefit concerts for victims of Hurricane Katrina.
In July 2007, Alicia performed at the Live Earth concerts. These concerts aimed to raise awareness about climate change. She also participated in the Nobel Peace Prize Concert in Norway. In 2010, she performed for Hope for Haiti Now: A Global Benefit for Earthquake Relief after the 2010 Haiti earthquake. In 2009, she received the Humanitarian Award at the BET Awards.
In June 2011, Alicia spoke at the United Nations AIDS conference. She called for support for organizations that help families affected by AIDS. In March 2013, Alicia partnered with Greater Than AIDS to launch EMPOWERED. This campaign teaches women in the U.S. about HIV/AIDS.
In July 2016, Alicia was part of a video called "23 Ways You Could Be Killed if You are Black in America." This video spoke out against racism. In January 2017, Alicia protested at the Women's March on Washington. She was one of the main speakers.
Alicia and her husband, Swizz Beatz, are also art collectors. They co-chair the Gordon Parks Foundation. This foundation works to preserve the art of Gordon Parks, a famous photographer and activist.
Personal Life
Alicia Keys married hip hop artist and producer Swizz Beatz on July 31, 2010. They have two sons together.
Discography
Studio albums
- Songs in A Minor (2001)
- The Diary of Alicia Keys (2003)
- As I Am (2007)
- The Element of Freedom (2009)
- Girl on Fire (2012)
- Here (2016)
- Alicia (2020)
- Keys (2021)
- Santa Baby (2022)
Filmography
Films starred
- Smokin' Aces (2006)
- The Nanny Diaries (2007)
- The Secret Life of Bees (2008)
Theatre
Music and lyrics
- Hell's Kitchen (2023–2024)
Concert tours
|
Headlining tours
|
Co-headlining tours
Concerts
|
See Also
In Spanish: Alicia Keys para niños
- List of artists who reached number one in the United States
- Honorific nicknames in popular music
- List of songs written by Alicia Keys
