Monday, November 24, 2008
Biography
Name : Alicia Keys
Birth Date : January 25, 1980 or 1981
Birth Place : Manhattan, New York City, New York, United States
Birth Name : Alicia J. Augello-Cook
Nationality : American
Profession : Singer, songwriter, pianist, composer, arranger, record producer,
actress, music
video director, philanthropist, author
Best Known As : Singer of the hit R&B single 'Fallin'
Genre(s) : R&B, soul, neo soul, jazz
Also known as : Lellow
This bright and accomplished performer was born January 25, 1981, in Manhattan, New York. Alicia began her career at the age of four with a role in the "Wizard of Oz". She is a true musical prodigy whose multi-dimensional gifts emerged at a very early age. Her wit and intelligence are almost too hard to perceive. Alicia recognizes a number of influences, including her ultra supportive mother, who told her, "You can quit anything else but you can never give up on your piano lessons". Alicia also sites a teacher at the Professional Performance Arts School in Manhattan, who, while she was majoring in Choir, gave her valuable instruction on her voice.
Alicia will take modern R&B soul to a whole new level of entertainment and ambition. Highly sought after by record labels, Alicia's celebrity talent has caused old-fashioned bidding wars in her honor. Completing high school at 16, she entered Columbia University, and continued her studies in music, writing and performing. In 1999, Alicia went to work with Cleve Davis at J Records and cut 'Songs in A Minor'. This release sent Alicia to the top of the charts and her star status was confirmed. Alicia's soulful sound can be attributed to a variety of natural talents. She is a skilled songwriter, boasts years of expertise as a classically trained pianist, and possesses a powerful set of vocal cords. By combining these talents, she is destined to become a superstar.
To say that Keys is a female D'Angelo would do this star a disservice, as she's an original. Alicia confidently states, "I was born in Hell's Kitchen and spent a lot of time in Harlem and was exposed to a lot of different types of music, from Biggie to Nirvana to Miles Davis to Nina Simone and back to classical. I think it was inevitable that I would merge all of them in what I do now. Aretha Franklin and James Brown had real things to talk about and feel in their hearts and that's the kind of music that flows through me." Clearly, at such a young age, a long and ground breaking career looms ahead of her. This is the real deal, a bona fide superstar. This bi-racial beauty has been blessed from above in more ways than one, Alicia is a good looking, talented, sexy woman.
Alicia Keys Trivia
* Alicia Keys is calling on her peers in the music industry to raise their voices to help millions suffering from AIDS in Africa (29th Nov 2004)
* Fans keep calling her number, but only J.D. Turner, a Georgia man, picks up the phone, because he has the same phone number that Keys references in her love song, Diary. In the song, Keys sings, Oooo baby, if there's anything that you fear/ Come forth and call 489-4608 and I'll be here. (August 11, 2004)
* Will make her film debut in a Halle Berry-produced biopic about piano prodigy Philippa Schuyler. (May 14, 2004)
* Has been added to the Feb. 8 Grammy Awards telecast. (January 30, 2004)
* Final negotiations are underway for a package trek featuring Beyonce Knowles, Missy Elliott and Alicia Keys. (January 23, 2004)
* Songs by Alicia Keys, R. Kelly, Mariah Carey are banned From 'American Idol' auditions this year. (January 23, 2004)
* Has been added to the lineup of the 2004 Air Jamaica Jazz & Blues Festival, set for January 22 through January 24 in Montego Bay, Jamaica. (January 5, 2004)
* Releases her sophomore album, The Diary of Alicia Keys, Tuesday. (December 2, 2003)
* Keys�s album 'Songs In A Minor' premiered Sunday on VH1 at 10 p.m. ET -- The special chronicled Keys's upbringing in New York City's Hell's Kitchen neighborhood, and how she began to dance and study classical piano at the age of 5. (April 14, 2003)
* Some people celebrate their birthday with a cake, but Alicia Keys celebrated with a plaque recognizing 10 million in sales of her debut disc, Songs in A Minor -- though she turned 22 on Saturday, the crowd of well-wishers in a party hosted by her mentor, J Records founder Clive Davis, sang Happy Birthday to her Wednesday night as she received the plaque from Davis. (February 3, 2003)
* Keys and Sean Combs said Saturday the world knew too little about the devastating AIDS pandemic in Africa and promised to work daily to make the reality known -- in South Africa for an MTV concert Saturday that will be part of a World Aids Day television special targeting a global audience of up to two billion people, they said musicians had a special responsibility to talk to young people about HIV /AIDS. (November 25, 2002)
* Vanity Fair covergirls Alicia Keys, Jennifer Lopez and Sheryl Crow engaged in all-out diva warfare in order to be best represented on the magazine -- each starlet brought their own hairdresser and make-up team. (October 17, 2002)
* A true musical prodigy whose multi-dimensional gifts emerged at age five, the beautiful Alicia has taken modern R&B soul to a whole new level at the tender age of nineteen.
* At age 16, her outstanding grades allowed her to finish high school early.
* Nickname: Lellow
* Accepted by Columbia University at age 16, but dropped out to pursue her music career.
* Named one of People Magazine's Breakthrough Stars of 2001.
* Was named one of the 50 Most Beautiful People by People Magazine in 2002.
* Ethnicity: Half Jamaican (father side), half Irish-Italian (mother side).
* Musical Influences: Chopin, Marvin Gaye, Mary J. Blige, Miles Davis, The Notorious B.I.G., Stevie Wonder, Curtis Mayfield, Beethoven
* Idols: Stevie Wonder, Maya Angelou
* Instruments: Piano, guitar
* Would Like To Collaborate With: Lauryn Hill
* Favorite Album: Songs In The Key Of Life by Stevie Wonder
* Secret Talent: Swimming
* Bad Habit: Cracking her neck
Filmography
1. The Secret Life of Bees (2008) .... June Boatwright
2. The Nanny Diaries (2007) .... Lynette
3. Smokin' Aces (2006) .... Georgia Sykes