American singer, songwriter, and actress Alicia Keys or Alicia Augello Cook is better known by her stage name, Alicia Keys. Keys, a pianist with classical training, started writing songs at 12, and Columbia Records signed him when he was 15. She signed with Arista Records following disagreements with the label and later released her debut album, Songs in A Minor, through J Records in 2001. Over 12 million copies of the album were sold globally due to its commercial and critical success. Keys won five Grammy Awards in 2002 for the song, which gave birth to the number-one single “Fallin’” on the Billboard Hot 100. The Diary of Alicia Keys, her second album, was also a critical and commercial success, selling eight million copies worldwide and yielding numerous singles, including “You Do not Know My Name,”
In the Manhattan borough of New York City’s Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood, Alicia Augello Cook was born on January 25, 1981. She is one of three children of flight attendant Craig Cook and the only child of Teresa Augello, a paralegal, and occasional actress. Keys’ mother is Italian, Irish, and Scottish, and her father is African American. Her mother’s paternal grandparents were immigrants from Lamezia Terme, Calabria, and Sciacca, Sicily. Keys, named after her Puerto Rican godmother, has claimed that she felt at ease with her mixed-race heritage because it allowed her to “relate to different cultures.” Keys’ mother raised her during her formative years in Hell’s Kitchen after her father abandoned her when she was two years old. Legends claimed that her father was absent from her life and that her parents had no relationship.
In 1994, Keys, then 13 years old, was a member of Teens in Motion, a youth group run by his brother, when manager Jeff Robinson first met him. Keys had been receiving vocal training from Robinson’s brother in Harlem. He had spoken to his brother about Keys and received advice to visit her, but Robinson dismissed it because he had “heard that story 1,000 times.” Keys was a member of a three-girl band that had started in the Bronx and was playing in Harlem at the time. In the end, Robinson complied with his brother’s request and went to Harlem’s Police Athletic League facility to see Keys perform with her band. Keys’ soulful singing, playing of classical and contemporary music, and performance of her own songs quickly won him over. (1)
Alicia Keys' Early Life
In the Manhattan borough of New York City’s Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood, Alicia Augello Cook was born on January 25, 1981. She is one of three children of flight attendant Craig Cook and the only child of Teresa Augello, a paralegal, and occasional actress. Keys’ mother is Italian, Irish, and Scottish, and her father is African American. Her mother’s paternal grandparents were immigrants from Lamezia Terme, Calabria, and Sciacca, Sicily. Keys, named after her Puerto Rican godmother, has claimed that she felt at ease with her mixed-race heritage because it allowed her to “relate to different cultures.” Keys’ mother raised her during her formative years in Hell’s Kitchen after her father abandoned her when she was two years old. Legends claimed that her father was absent from her life and that her parents had no relationship. (3)
Alicia Keys' Education
At 12, Keys enrolled in the Professional Performing Arts School, where she majored in the choir and took music, dance, and theater classes. Keys and her bass-playing friend started their first band in their early teens, but neither “knew too much about how pop songs worked.” Throughout junior high and high school, Keys continued to perform in musical ensembles, sing, and write songs. She developed into a skilled pianist, and at age 14, she started learning jazz after her classical music teacher had run out of things to teach her.
Keys had already begun learning about other musical genres while residing in the “musical melting pot” city, such as soul music, hip hop, and R&B, and had developed an affinity for performers like Marvin Gaye and Curtis Mayfield. Keys accepted a scholarship to attend Manhattan’s Columbia University. At 16, she graduated high school early as valedictorian and enrolled at Columbia University while continuing to work on her music. Keys struggled to balance a demanding schedule that included going to school and working in the studio until the early hours of the morning, which added to her stress and strained relations with her mother.
Alicia Keys' Husband/Boyfriend and Family Life
Until 2008, Keys and her longtime friend and collaborator Kerry Brothers Jr. maintained a low-key romantic relationship. Later, Keys dated the producer-artist of hip-hop Swizz Beatz, whom she later wed on July 31, 2010. On October 14, 2010, they welcomed their first child, Egypt Daoud Dean. On December 27, 2014, she gave birth to Genesis Ali Dean, their second son.
Alicia Keys' Career
In 1994, Keys, then 13 years old, was a member of Teens in Motion, a youth group run by his brother, when manager Jeff Robinson first met him. Keys had been receiving vocal training from Robinson’s brother in Harlem. He had spoken to his brother about Keys and received advice to visit her, but Robinson dismissed it because he had “heard that story 1,000 times.” Keys was a member of a three-girl band that had started in the Bronx and was playing in Harlem at the time. In the end, Robinson complied with his brother’s request and went to Harlem’s Police Athletic League facility to see Keys perform with her band. Keys’ soulful singing, playing of classical and contemporary music, and performance of her own songs quickly won him over.
She signed to Arista Records in late 1998 after Robinson and Keys were able to negotiate her release from the Columbia contract with Davis’s assistance. Keys was able to take her original music with her when she left. Keys was encouraged to be herself by Davis, who also gave her the creative control and freedom she desired. Keys kept honing her songs after signing with Davis. At 16, Keys almost went with the stage name Wilde, but her manager came up with the idea of Keys after having a dream. She believed that name perfectly described her as a performer and individual. The soundtracks of the movies Shaft and Dr. Dolittle 2 featured Keys’ songs, “Rock wit U” and “Rear View Mirror,” respectively.
Keys and Miguel’s latest single, “Show Me Love,” was released in September 2019. Michael B. Jordan and Zoe Saldana appeared in the music video that went along with it. On September 24, 2019, the song debuted on urban radio as the lead single from Keys’ upcoming seventh studio album. During her appearance at the 2019 iHeart Radio Music Festival in Las Vegas, Keys gave the song its debut performance. After “Girl on Fire” peaked at number 90 on November 22, 2019, the song was a commercial success on US Urban music charts and became Keys’ first song to enter the Billboard Hot 100. Her record for having the most number-one singles on the Adult R&B Songs chart was extended by this achievement; she ruled for 5 straight weeks. (4)
Quick and Fun Facts about Alicia Keys
American singer, songwriter, and actress Alicia Keys or Alicia Augello Cook is better known by her stage name, Alicia Keys.
Keys, a pianist with classical training, started writing songs at 12, and Columbia Records signed him when he was 15.
She signed with Arista Records following disagreements with the label and later released her debut album, Songs in A Minor, through J Records in 2001.
Over 12 million copies of the album were sold globally due to its commercial and critical success.
Keys won five Grammy Awards in 2002 for the song, which gave birth to the number-one single “Fallin’” on the Billboard Hot 100.
The Diary of Alicia Keys, her second album, was also a critical and commercial success, selling eight million copies worldwide and yielding numerous singles, including “You Do not Know My Name,”
In the Manhattan borough of New York City’s Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood, Alicia Augello Cook was born on January 25, 1981.
She is one of three children of flight attendant Craig Cook and the only child of Teresa Augello, a paralegal, and occasional actress.
Keys’ mother is Italian, Irish, and Scottish, and her father is African American.
Her mother’s paternal grandparents were immigrants from Lamezia Terme, Calabria, and Sciacca, Sicily.
Keys, named after her Puerto Rican godmother, has claimed that she felt at ease with her mixed-race heritage because it allowed her to “relate to different cultures.”
Keys’ mother raised her during her formative years in Hell’s Kitchen after her father abandoned her when she was two years old.
Legends claimed that her father was absent from her life and that her parents had no relationship.
In 1994, Keys, then 13 years old, was a member of Teens in Motion, a youth group run by his brother, when manager Jeff Robinson first met him.
Keys had been receiving vocal training from Robinson’s brother in Harlem.
He had spoken to his brother about Keys and received advice to visit her, but Robinson dismissed it because he had “heard that story 1,000 times.”
Keys was a member of a three-girl band that had started in the Bronx and was playing in Harlem at the time.
In the end, Robinson complied with his brother’s request and went to Harlem’s Police Athletic League facility to see Keys perform with her band.
Keys’ soulful singing, playing of classical and contemporary music, and performance of her own songs quickly won him over.
Alicia Keys' Appearance (Height, Hair, Eyes & More)
| Height | 5 ft 5 in 1.68m |
|---|---|
| Weight | 121 pounds 55 kg |
| Hair Color | Dark Brown |
| Eye Color | Dark Brown |
| Body Type | Fit |
| Sexual Orientation | Straight |
Facts About Alicia Keys
| Nationality | American |
|---|---|
| Estimate Net Worth | $150 million |
| Religion | NA |
| Zodiac Sign | Aquarius |
| Birthplace | New York City |
| Birthday | January 25, 1981 |
References
- Alicia Keys, retrieved from https://www.britannica.com/biography/Alicia-Keys?utm_source=pj-affiliate&utm_medium=pj&utm_campaign=kids-pj&clickId=4081198972
- Alicia Keys, retrieved from https://www.celebritynetworth.com/richest-celebrities/singers/alicia-keys-net-worth/
- Alicia Keys, retrieved from https://www.biography.com/musician/alicia-keys
Alicia Keys, retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alicia_Keys