Alicia Keys

About

Alicia Keys, born Alicia Augello Cook on January 25, 1981, in New York City, is an American singer-songwriter, pianist, and actress. Trained in classical piano from a young age, Keys was composing songs by the age of 12 and was signed to Columbia Records at 15. However, she found her breakthrough after moving to Clive Davis's Arista Records and later on his J Records. Her debut album, "Songs in A Minor", catapulted her to worldwide acclaim in 2001, earning her five Grammy Awards. Known for her soulful voice and meaningful lyrics, Keys has since released several successful albums, acted in films and television, and become a prominent philanthropist and activist.

Associated With

Alicia Keys, a multi-talented and Grammy Award-winning artist, has collaborated with a number of industry heavyweights throughout her career. She's worked with music artists such as Usher, Jay Z, and Jack White, creating iconic songs like "My Boo", "Empire State of Mind", and "Another Way to Die" respectively. Keys was also briefly involved with producer Swizz Beatz, whom she later married, and together they have two children. She also dabbled in acting and worked with popular actors and producers, featuring in films like "The Secret Life Of Bees" and "Smokin' Aces". In the philanthropic field, she co-founded Keep a Child Alive, a non-profit organization aiming to provide treatment to families with HIV and AIDS in Africa and India, with Leigh Blake. Her collaborations reflect her versatility as an artist and her influential position in the industry.

Career Highlights

• 1981: Alicia Augello Cook, known professionally as Alicia Keys, is born in New York City on January 25th.
• 2001: Keys releases her debut album "Songs in A Minor," which sold over 12 million copies worldwide. The same year, she won five Grammy Awards, including Best New Artist and Song of the Year for her breakout hit "Fallin."
• 2002: She wins her first NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Female Artist.
• 2003: Her second album, "The Diary of Alicia Keys," debuts at number one on the Billboard 200. The album spawned successful singles such as "If I Ain't Got You."
• 2004: Wins four Grammy Awards, including Best R&B Album for "The Diary of Alicia Keys."
• 2005: Keys won four Billboard Music Awards, including Female Artist of the Year.
• 2007: Her third studio album, "As I Am," was released, and the lead single “No One” won two Grammy Awards in 2008.
• 2009: Keys, along with Jay-Z, tops the Billboard Hot 100 for five weeks with “Empire State of Mind.”
• 2010: Wins two Grammy Awards, including Best Rap/Sung Collaboration for "Empire State of Mind."
• 2012: She releases her fifth studio album, "Girl on Fire," with the title track of the same name reaching the top 10 in several countries.
• 2013: Wins a Grammy Award for Best R&B Album for "Girl on Fire."
• 2016: Keys becomes a coach on NBC's "The Voice."
• 2019-2020: Hosts the Grammy Awards for two consecutive years.
• 2020: Keys releases her seventh studio album, "Alicia," during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• As of 2021, Keys has sold over 35 million albums and 30 million singles worldwide, making her one of the world's best-selling music artists. She has received many awards throughout her career, including 15 Grammy Awards.

Notable Awards

• Alicia Keys is a renowned singer, songwriter and pianist who has won numerous awards throughout her career. Here are some of these notable awards:
• Grammy Awards: Alicia Keys has won a total of 15 Grammy Awards. This includes prestigious awards like 'Song of the Year' for "Fallin" in 2002 and 'Best R&B Album' for "The Diary of Alicia Keys" in 2005.
• Billboard Music Awards: She has won several Billboard Music awards including 'New R&B/Hip-Hop Artist of the Year' in 2002 and 'Female R&B/Hip-Hop Artist of the Year' in 2005.
• American Music Awards: Alicia Keys has been awarded 'Favorite New Artist – Pop/Rock' and 'Favorite New Artist – Soul/R&B' in 2002.
• ASCAP Pop Music Awards: She has been honored multiple times with these awards, including 'Songwriter of the Year' award in 2005.
• MTV Video Music Awards: She won 'Best New Artist in a Video' for "Fallin" in 2002.
• World Music Awards: Alicia Keys has been awarded 'World's Best R&B Artist' in 2005 and 2008.
• BET Awards: She won 'Best Female R&B Artist' multiple times and also the 'Best Collaboration' for “Empire State of Mind" with Jay-Z.
• NAACP Image Awards: She has won several awards including 'Outstanding Female Artist' and 'Outstanding Music Video'.
• These are just a selection of the notable awards Alicia Keys has been honored with, showcasing her successful career in the music industry.

FAQs

What Is the Most Popular Alicia Keys Song/Album?

Alicia Keys is a renowned R&B singer-songwriter with numerous popular songs and albums to her credit. However, her most notable song is arguably "Fallin'" from her debut album "Songs in A Minor" released in 2001. This song was her breakthrough hit reaching No.1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and earning Keys her first Grammy Awards. The album itself was also highly successful, selling over 12 million copies worldwide and winning five Grammy Awards, including Best New Artist and Song of the Year. This album is often considered her most popular and influential project.

How Did Alicia Keys Get Famous?

Alicia Keys got famous through her exceptional talent as a singer, songwriter and pianist. She started playing piano at 7 and was later accepted into the Professional Performing Arts School at 12. At 16, she graduated and signed with Columbia records. However, her breakthrough came after signing with Clive Davis' Arista Records. Her debut album "Songs in A Minor" was a huge success released in 2001, selling over 12 million copies worldwide, scoring five Grammy Awards and launching Keys into international stardom. Her mix of classical piano with R&B and soul music captivated audiences, making her a unique figure in the music industry.