Alicia Keys Biography

Alicia Keys is a Grammy Award winning American singer who rose to fame with her debut album, ‘Songs in A Minor’. This biography of Alicia Keys provides detailed information about her childhood, life, achievements, works & timeline

Quick Facts

Nick Name: Lellow

Birthday: January 25, 1981

Nationality: American

Famous: Actresses Pianists

Also Known As: Alicia Augello Cook

Sun Sign: Aquarius

Age: 37 Years

Born in: Hell's Kitchen

Famous as: Singer-songwriter

Height: 1.68 m

Spouse/Ex-: Swizz Beatz

father: Craig Cook

mother: Terria Joseph

siblings: Cole Cook

children: Egypt Daoud Dean

City, States, Provinces & Districts: New Yorkers

Founder/Co-Founder: KrucialKeys Enterprises, Keep a Child Alive

Net worth: $130 million as of Aug 22, 2016

More Facts

education: Columbia University, Professional Performing Arts School

awards: 2002 - Grammy Award for Song of the Year - Fallin'
2002 - Grammy Award for Best New Artist
2014; 2005; 2002 - Grammy Award for Best R&B Album - Girl on Fire

The Diary of Alicia Keys
Remixed & Unplugged in A minor
2011 - Grammy Award for Best Rap Song - Empire State of Mind
2010 - BET Award for Best Collaboration - Empire State of Mind
2005; 2004; 2002 - MTV Europe Music Award for Best R&B
2011 - Grammy Award for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration - Empire State of Mind
2008; 2005; 2002 - Grammy Award for Best R&B Song - No One
You Don't Know My Name
Fallin'
2010; 2008; 2005 - BET Award for Best Female R&B/Pop Artist
2002 - BET Award for Best New Artist
2009; 2008; 2005 - Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance - Superwoman
No One
If I Ain't Got You
2005 - People's Choice Award for Favorite Female Artist
2015; 2008; 2006; -NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Song - We Are Here
Like You'll Never See Me Again
Unbreakable
2009 - BET Humanitarian Award
2008; 2002 - NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Album - As I Am
Remixed & Unplugged in A minor
2001 - MTV Video Music Award for Artist to Watch - Fallin
2010 - MTV Video Music Award for Best Cinematography -Empire State of Mind
2005 - Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals - My Boo (feat. Alicia Keys)
2004 - Billboard Music Award for Top Female Artist
2010 - BET Hip Hop Award for Best Hip Hop Video - Empire State of Mind
2013; 2008; 2006 - NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Female Artist
2013; 2011; 2008; - NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Music Video - Girl On Fire
Un-Thinkable (I'm Ready)
Like You'll Never See Me Again
2002 - NAACP Image Award for Outstanding New Artist
2010 - Soul Train Music Award for Best R&B/Soul Female Artist
2005; 2004 - MTV Video Music Award for Best R&B Video - Karma
If I Ain't Got You
2008 - American Music Award for Favorite Pop/Rock Album - As I Am
2008 - American Music Award for Favorite Soul/R&B Album - As I Am
2002 - Soul Train Music Award for Best R&B/Soul or Rap New Artist - Fallin'
2004 - Billboard Music Award for Top R&B Song - If I Ain't Got You
2004 - American Music Award for Favorite Soul/R&B Female Artist
2010 - BET Hip Hop Award for Best Collabo
Duo or Group - Empire State Of Mind
2002 - American Music Award for Favorite Pop/Rock New Artist
2005; 2004 - Soul Train Music Award for Best R&B/Soul Single
Female - If I Ain't Got You
You Don't Know My Name
2010 - Soul Train Music Award for Record of the Year - Un-Thinkable (I'm Ready)
2002 - Echo Award for Best International Newcomer - Remixed & Unplugged in A minor
2001 - Billboard Music Award for Female New Artist of the Year
2008 - Satellite Award for Best Original Song - Another Way to Die
2005; 2002 - Soul Train Music Award for Best R&B/Soul Album
Female - The Diary of Alicia Keys
Remixed & Unplugged in A minor
2002 - American Music Award for Favorite Soul/R&B New Artist
2009 - People's Choice Award for Favorite R&B Song - No One
2005 - Soul Train Music Award for Best R&B/Soul Single - Group
Band or Duo - My Boo
2004 - Billboard Music Award for R&B Singles Airplay Track of the Year - If I Ain't Got You
2008; 2004 - World Music Award for World's Best Selling R&B Female
2001 - Billboard Music Award for New R&B/Hip-Hop Artist of the Year
2004 - Billboard Music Award for R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Artist of the Year
2004 - MTV Europe Music Award for Best R&B
2002 - Soul Train Music Award for Sammy Davis
Jr. – Entertainer of the Year (Female)
2004 - Billboard Music Award for Female R&B/Hip-Hop Artist of the Year
2004 - Billboard Music Award for Female Hot 100 Artist of the Year
2004 - Billboard Music Award for Hot 100 Songwriter of the Year
2008 - The BET Honors Award for Excellence in Entertainment

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Alicia Keys is a Grammy Award winning American singer who rose to fame with her debut album, ‘Songs in A Minor’, which sold over 12 million copies and established her as an overnight sensation. Not only was her debut album a huge commercial success, it also received much critical acclaim and won her several prestigious awards. Her success continued with the release of her subsequent albums and soon she became one of contemporary America’s most favorite singers. Born as the daughter of a part-time actress, she was exposed to the show business from a young age and was encouraged by her mother to take music and dance lessons. She was just 12 when she enrolled in the Professional Performing Arts School, and by the time she graduated, she had developed strong songwriting skills in addition to her singing talent. At the age of 20 she released her debut album which became an immediate hit which sold millions of copies and earned her positive reviews from the critics. Her subsequent albums too performed well and she proved to the audiences and critics that she was not one-time wonder. Eventually she forayed into television and films as well and has appeared in movies such as ‘Smokin' Aces’ and ‘Dove: Fresh Takes’

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Alicia Keys

Childhood & Early Life
Career
Major Work
Awards & Achievements
Personal Life & Legacy
Net Worth
Trivia
Alicia Keys Movies

Childhood & Early Life

She was born as Alicia Augello Cook on January 25, 1981, in New York City as the only child of Teresa and Craig Cook. Her mother was a part-time actress while her father was a flight attendant. She is of biracial heritage. Her parents separated when she was quite young and she was primarily raised by her mother.
Her mother ensured that young Alicia received dance and music lessons. She started learning classical piano when she was seven and enrolled in the Professional Performing Arts School at the age of 12.
She graduated as valedictorian at the age of 16. Following her graduation she became serious about her musical career and signed a recording contract with Columbia records. At around the same time she was accepted into Columbia University. However, she dropped out of college after a month to pursue her music career.

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Career

In 2001, she released her first studio album, ‘Songs in A Minor’. The album created a sensation immediately upon its release, and went on to sell over 6.2 million copies in the United States and 12 million copies worldwide, making her an internationally popular singing star.
Her much anticipated second album, ‘The Diary of Alicia Keys’ was out in 2003. The album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, selling over 618,000 copies in its first week of release.
Her next album ‘As I Am’ came out in 2007 and once again proved to be a phenomenal success. The album debuted at No. 1 on the US Billboard 200 chart and became an international commercial success. It spawned the super hit singles, ‘No One’ and ‘Another Way to Die’.
She also ventured into films and had a starring role in the 2006 movie, ‘Smokin’ Aces’ which also starred Ben Affleck, Jason Bateman, Andy García, and Ray Liotta. She played the role of Georgia Sykes, a female contract killer.
Alicia Keys played the role of June Boatwright in the 2008 drama film, ‘The Secret Life of Bees’ which is based on the story of a 14-year-old girl who is haunted by the memory of her late mother.
In 2009, she released the album, ‘The Element of Freedom’, in which she departed from the classicist soul music that dominated her previous albums. Characterized by a mid-tempo, low-key sound it features mostly ballads. It was a commercial success and received positive reviews from critics.
Her album ‘Girl on Fire’ was out in November 2012. It was a mixture of conventional genre songs and piano ballads, with occasional references to marriage and motherhood. Even though the album was a moderate success, its commercial performance was pale in comparison to the earlier albums.
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Major Work

Her debut album, ‘Songs in A Minor’ catapulted her to overnight stardom and established her as a rising superstar in the musical industry. The album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart, sold over 236,000 copies in its first week, and won her several awards and accolades.

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Awards & Achievements

In 2002, she won the Grammy Awards for Song of the Year (‘Fallin’), Best R&B Song (‘Fallin’), Best R&B Album (‘Songs in A Minor’), Best Female R&B Vocal Performance (‘Fallin’), and Best New Artist.
She won four Grammy Awards in 2005 including the Best R&B Album for ‘The Diary of Alicia Keys’, and Best R&B Song for ‘You Don't Know My Name’.
In 2006, she won three NAACP Image Awards, including Outstanding Female Artist and Outstanding Song for ‘Unbreakable’.
In 2014, she received the Grammy Award for Best R&B Album for ‘Girl on Fire’.

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Personal Life & Legacy

Alicia Keys married hip-hop producer Swizz Beatz in July 2010. The couple has two children.

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Net Worth

Alicia keys’ estimated net worth is $130 million.

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Trivia

She is the co-founder and Global Ambassador of Keep a Child Alive, a non-profit organization that provides medicine to families with HIV and AIDS in Africa. She also performs regularly in charity concerts to raise funds for several humanitarian causes

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Alicia Keys Movies