Alicia Keys

Biography

Alicia Augello Cook Keys was born on January 25th, 1980 in New York from an irlando-Italian mother, Terri Augello and of a jamaïco-Porto Rican father, Craig Cook. His/her father and his mother separated when it was three years old. Since very small his/her mother accompanies it in her musical career. Alicia has a half-brother, fore-mentioned Cole. It begins the piano at the five years age. To adolescence, it enters in Manhattan' S Professional Performance School Arts, where it acquires an impressive vocal technique. It is at the 14 years age that it meets its manager, Jeff Robinson thanks to the brother of this one, Joseph Conrad Robinson (it is the professor of song of Alicia). Into 16 years, it integrates the Columbia University which it will leave to devote to its career of singer. She sings then on the local scene, records pieces for film original soundtracks such as Men in Black and Shaft.

In 1999, Alicia Keys seizes an opportunity by signing a contract with Arista. But nothing good went from there with this recording company, because they wanted of Alicia their ideal of young singers r' Nb, and Alicia refused categorically. It is at this time, that Alicia created its production company with its musical partner, Kerry Krucial Brother, KrucialKeys Enterprise.

It is shortly after (Alicia is 18 years old) which Clive Davis, producer within Arista, leaves Arista for created his own label, J Records, and takes along Alicia with him.

In July 2001, its first Songs album In has Minor leaves. It meets a real success in France and at the United States, indeed it arrives number 1 of the classifications of sale as of its exit, and the remainder during six weeks. The professional critics qualify this album of masterpiece, and for proof some of these songs are described as traditional of the drunk person, like " Fallin" (its first individual). For this album Alicia receives five Grammy Awards (the highest musical reward in the USA), as well as other rewards: several Drunk person Awards Train, 2 Billboard Awards,… With final it will be sold some more than twelve million specimens throughout the world.

In 2003, the singer is of return with new a opus The Diary off Alicia Keys. The originality of this album is a succulent mixture of drunk Rnb/and Hip hop. This album receives same criticisms that for Songs in minor has, it is a masterpiece. It receives to him also many rewards, including four Grammy Awards. With final it was sold some more than 7 million specimens in the United States only, being thus certified seven times disc of platinum.

In 2004, Alicia leaves also a book poems entitled " Tears for Toilets " , which becomes a best seller in a few weeks.

October 11th, 2005 CD and a DVD Live MTV Unplugged left simultaneously. It is classified to him also number one of the sales as of its exit.

But Alicia is also a noble-hearted woman, since 2002 it starts to support the action of association " Keep has Child Alive " who provides drugs against the AIDS to the children of the third world. During the year 2006, Alicia travels through Africa and sponsors the construction of a private clinic in Uganda. To collect funds for association, Alicia interprets with Bono a song of Peter Gabriel " Gift' T Give Up " whose funds return to association. It creates also its own association " Frum Tha Ground Up " to help the young talents to carry out their dreams.

In 2007, Alicia also touches with an art which it had not marked yet of its print, the cinema. Indeed in January 2007, one sees it for the first time in an action film of Joe Carnahan, Smokin' Aces. Criticisms describe as Alicia, of " very good surprise in this film. October 3rd, 2007 it will be seen this time in a comedy " The Nanny Diaries " where she camps the role of Lynette, the best friend of the main character (played by Scarlett Johansson). And about 2008 it will begin the turning of " Composition in Black and White " who is the film adaptation of the biography of a traditional and mongrel pianist of years 30/40, Phillipa Schuiler whose Alicia will hold the role. For the anecdote one can note the presence of Halle Berry to the production.

In conclusion Alicia is a key with all (music, literature, cinema, production…).

July 7th, 2007, it takes part in the international concert Live Earth for the cause of the environment. She interprets there 4 titles of which a new: " That' S The Things Love" Butt; , extract of its 3rd album studio which will leave on November 13rd, 2007, which bears the name of " Ace I Am".

The first individual " No One" is diffused on the waves since the beginning of October and will be available on November 2nd, 2007. After a few weeks of exploitations, " No One" reached the #1 of the prize list Billboard Hot 100. The album, which names " Ace I am" also begin him, like all the other albums of Alicia Keys in career, at the top of the sales of Billboard 200 American. In one week only, it is sold with 742.000 specimens, the best beginning of sales for a female artist since Norah Jones and its album " Feels like home" in 2004 (which had been sold to more than one million specimens at its first week).

In career, Alicia Keys sold more than 22 million albums and classified 6 songs with signal 10 of the prize list Billboard Hot 100.

Sources: Billboard and Alicia Keys Official Web site

Cinema

Alicia Keys also started a cinematographic career: she played in Smokin' Aces (left in the United States planned for the re-entry 2006), film of Joe Carnahan, at the sides in particular of Ben Affleck and Andy Garcia. In another film, still in preparation, Composition in Black and White , she will play the main role, that of Philippa Schuyler, wonder of the Thirties. The " black and blanc" title refers at the same time to the keys of piano (instrument of predilection of Schuyler and Keys) and to the interbreeding (Schuyler and Keys are both born from a black father and a white mother). She currently makes the film The Nanny Diaries , with Scarlett Johansson.

Discography

Albums

Individual

See too

External bonds

Official site
Official site of its label
Alicia Keys!
Alicia Keys Forums! (AKF!)
ITDOAK
Words of songs of Alicia Keys
Alicia Keys File of Yahoo! Current events

References

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