Alicia Keys
Alicia Augello Cook (born January 25, 1981), known professionally as Alicia Keys, is an American R&B singer, songwriter and actress. She has sold over forty-one million albums and singles worldwide as of 2007, and has won numerous awards, including fourteen Grammy Awards, eleven Billboard Music Awards, five American Music Awards, and fourteen NAACP Image Awards.
Alicia Keys | |
|---|---|
 Alicia Keys in 2011 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Alicia Augello Cook |
| Also known as | Lellow[1] |
| Born | January 25, 1981 Hell's Kitchen, New York, USA |
| Genres | R&B, soul, pop |
| Occupation(s) | Singer-songwriter, pianist, record producer, actress, composer |
| Instruments | Piano, vocals, keyboards |
| Years active | 1996 - present |
| Labels | Arista, Columbia, J Records, RCA |
| Associated acts | Swizz Beatz, Usher, Beyoncé Knowles, [Kerry Brothers, Jr.], [Maxwell (musician)|Maxwell] |
| Website | www.aliciakeys.com |
Early life
Keys was born on January 25, 1981, in Hell's Kitchen, Manhattan, New York City, New York.[2] Her birth name is Alicia Augello Cook. She is the only child of Teresa Augello, a paralegal and part-time actress, and Craig Cook, a flight attendant. Her mother is of half Italian and half English, Irish, and Scottish ancestry,[3] and her father is of African American ancestry.[4] Keys has expressed that she was comfortable with her mixed race heritage because she felt she was able to "relate to different cultures".[5]
Discography
- 2001: Songs in A Minor
- 2003: The Diary of Alicia Keys
- 2007: As I Am
- 2009: The Element of Freedom
- 2012: Girl on Fire
- Live albums
- Unplugged (2005)
Tours
| Year | Title | Number of performances |
|---|---|---|
| 2001/2002 | Songs in A Minor Tour | 58 |
| 2004 | Verizon Ladies First Tour | 25 |
| 2005 | The Diary Tour | 36 |
| 2008 | As I Am Tour | 94 |
| 2010 | The Freedom Tour | 50 |
| 2011 | Piano & I: A One Night Only Event With Alicia Keys | 5 |
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | The Cosby Show | Maria | "Slumber Party" (Season 1, Episode 22) |
| 2001 | Charmed | P3 VIP Patron (uncredited) | "Size Matters" (Season 4, Episode 5) |
| 2001—2010 | Saturday Night Live | Herself / Musical Guest | "Reese Witherspoon/Alicia Keys" (Season 27, Episode 1) "Charles Barkley/Alicia Keys" (Season 35, Episode 11) |
| 2003 | American Dreams | Fontella Bass | "Rescue Me" (Season 2, Episode 6) |
| 2003 | The Proud Family | Herself (voice) | "The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly" (Season 3, Episode 46) |
| 2005 | Sesame Street | Herself | Episode #36.26 (Season 36, Episode 26) |
| 2006 | The Backyardigans | Mommy Martian (voice) | "Mission to Mars" (Season 2, Episode 1) |
| 2007 | Cane | Herself | "One Man Is an Island" (Season 1, Episode 7) |
| 2007 | Elmo's Christmas Countdown | Herself | Christmas television special |
| 2007 | Smokin' Aces | Georgia Sykes | Debut film |
| 2007 | The Nanny Diaries | Lynette | |
| 2008 | Dove: Fresh Takes | Alex | Lead role |
| 2008 | The Secret Life of Bees | June Boatwright | Nominated - NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture |
| 2011 | Five | Director | Nominated - Directors Guild of America Award |
| 2012 | Firelight | Executive Producer |
Alicia Keys Media
Keys performing in Frankfurt, Germany, 2002
Keys performing at the Consumer Electronics Show in 2004
Alicia Keys sing
Keys performing at the 2008 Summer Sonic Festival in Tokyo, Japan
Keys at the 37th Annual American Music Awards red carpet, November 2009
Keys in South Africa for the FIFA World Cup Kick Off Concert, July 2010
Keys at NRJ Music Awards 2013
Keys playing the piano, supported by three backup vocalists
Keys protesting with Benjamin Chavis in 2002
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References
- ↑ "The Diary Of Alicia Keys [CD & DVD] [Limited] - Alicia Keys". Epinions. February 2, 2004. Retrieved 2008-02-14.
- ↑ "Alicia Keys Biography". Allmusic. Retrieved January 2, 2014.
- ↑ "Alicia Keys". IMDb.
- ↑ "A lot of people believe I'm part Jamaican, though I'm not. I'm definitely black and Italian and a little Irish or Scottish" (European American) – Bream, Jon (April 28, 2008). "More Keys to Alicia's Life". Star Tribune. http://www.startribune.com/entertainment/music/18138354.html?elr=KArksD:aDyaEP:kD:aUt:aDyaEP:kD:aUiacyKUUr. Retrieved January 2, 2014.
- ↑ "Alicia Keys – Keys Avoids Mixed Race Abuse". Keys first appeared at a Talent show on "Jessie Jones" where she performed alongside "four little women" who were also an unknown group at the time. Both were signed to a record deal after the performance.Contactmusic.com. December 1, 2004. Retrieved January 2, 2014.