Alicia Keys Biography

Since Alicia Keys 2001 debut, Songs in A Minor Keys has sold more than 20 million albums worldwide. The critically acclaimed debut earned Keys five Grammy Awards and her 2004 follow-up, The Diary of Alicia Keys got her 4 more.

Alicia Keys released the 2005 set, Unplugged recorded as part of MTV's acoustic-oriented series. The MTV Unplugged set has just gone platinum.

Besides being a phenomenal musician, Alicia Keys is also a philanthropist. Keys is the Global Ambassador for Keep a Child Alive, a non-profit organization that provides life-saving AIDS medicines. Keys and U2 lead singer Bono recorded a cover version of Peter Gabriel and Kate Bush's Don't Give Up, in recognition of World AIDS Day 2006. Keys and Bono's version of the song was retitled Don't Give Up (Africa) to show the two musicians' support for helping to raise awareness of people living with HIV and AIDS.

Early life:

 Keys, an only child, was born Alicia J. Augello-Cook in the Manhattan neighborhood of Harlem, in New York City, New York, the daughter of Teresa "Terri" Augello, a paralegal and part-time actress, and Craig Cook, a flight attendant. Keys" mother is of Irish, Scottish, and Italian descent and her father is Jamaican.

Keys" parents separated during her early childhood, and she was subsequently raised by her mother during her formative years in Hell"s Kitchen, also in Manhattan. In 1985, Keys and a group of other girls played the parts of Rudy Huxtable"s sleepover guests in an episode of The Cosby Show called "Slumber Party". She began playing the piano when she was seven, learning classical music by composers such as Beethoven, Mozart, and her favorite, Chopin.^{[citation needed]}

Keys graduated from the Professional Performing Arts School, a prestigious high school in Manhattan, as valedictorian at the age of sixteen. Although accepted to Columbia University with a scholarship, she decided to drop out and pursue her musical career. Keys signed a demo deal with Jermaine Dupri and his So So Def label, then distributed by Columbia Records. She co-wrote and recorded a song entitled "Dah Dee Dah (Sexy Thing)", which appeared on the soundtrack to the 1997 blockbuster, Men in Black. The song was Keys" first professional recording; however, it was never released as a single and her record contract with Columbia Records ended quickly. Keys later met Clive Davis, who signed her to Arista Records, which has since disbanded. Following Davis to his newly-formed J Records label, she recorded the songs "Rock wit U" and "Rear View Mirror", featured on the soundtracks to the films Shaft (2000) and Dr. Dolittle 2 (2001) respectively. Keys then released her debut album, Songs in A Minor.

Personal life:

The press reported in 2005 that Keys was attempting to reconcile with her father. However, Keys denied this and said her words were misinterpreted. She was also referenced in Bob Dylan"s song "Thunder on the Mountain", from his 2006 album Modern Times.

Albums:

• 2001: Songs in A Minor
• 2003: The Diary of Alicia Keys
• 2005: Unplugged
• 2007: As I Am

Books:

• Keys, Alicia (2001). Songs in A Minor. Hal Leonard Corporation. ISBN 0634037765.

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