Alicia Keys

Biography

Alicia Augello Cook (born January 25, 1981), known professionally as Alicia Keys, is an American singer-songwriter. A classically-trained pianist, Keys was composing songs by age 12. She was signed at 15 years old by Columbia Records, and then, after disputes with the label, by Arista Records. Her debut album, Songs in A Minor, was released with J Records in 2001. Praised for Keys' musical talents and creative control, Songs in A Minor was critically and commercially successful, producing her first Billboard Hot 100 number-one single "Fallin'" and selling over 12 million copies worldwide. Songs in A Minor earned Keys five Grammy Awards in 2002. Her second album, The Diary of Alicia Keys (2003), was also a critical and commercial success, spawning successful singles "You Don't Know My Name", "If I Ain't Got You" and "Diary", and selling eight million copies worldwide. The album garnered her an additional four Grammy Awards. Her duet song "My Boo" with Usher became her second number-one single in 2004. Keys released her first live album, Unplugged (2005), and became the first female to have an MTV Unplugged album debut at number one. Her third album, As I Am (2007), produced the Hot 100 number-one single "No One", selling 5 million copies worldwide and earning an additional three Grammy Awards. In 2007, Keys made her film debut in the action-thriller film Smokin' Aces. Her fourth album,The Element of Freedom (2009), became her first chart-topping album in the UK, and sold 4 million copies worldwide. In 2009, Keys also collaborated with Jay Z on "Empire State of Mind", which became her fourth number-one single, and won the Grammy Award for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration in 2010. Girl on Fire (2012) was her fifth Billboard 200 topping album, spawning the successful title track, and won the Grammy Award for Best R&B Album. In 2013, VH1 Storytellers was released as her second live album. Her sixth studio album, Here (2016), became her seventh US R&B/Hip-Hop chart topping album. Keys has received numerous accolades throughout her career, including 15 competitive Grammy Awards, 17 NAACP Image Awards, 12 ASCAP Awards, and awards from the Songwriters Hall of Fame and National Music Publishers Association. She has sold over 35 million albums and 30 million singles worldwide. Considered a musical icon, Keys was named by Billboard the top R&B artist of the 2000s decade and placed number 10 on their list of Top 50 R&B/Hip-Hop Artists of the Past 25 Years. VH1 also included her on their 100 Greatest Artists of All Time and 100 Greatest Women in Music lists, while Time have named her in their 100 list of most influential people in 2005 and 2017. Keys is also known for her humanitarian work, philanthropy and activism, and has received accolades for such work. Keys co-founded and is the Global Ambassador of the nonprofit HIV/AIDS-fighting organization Keep a Child Alive.

Known For

Georgia Sykes

Smokin' Aces

Lynette

The Nanny Diaries

June Boatwright

The Secret Life of Bees

Self

Alicia Keys Rocks New Year's Eve

Self

Live 8

Self - Musical Guest

Graduate Together: America Honors the High School Class of 2020

Self (archive footage)

Behind the Shield: The Power and Politics of the NFL

Self

2021 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony

Self

Alicia Keys: Unplugged

Self (archive footage)

Lewis Capaldi: How I'm Feeling Now

Self

Alicia Keys - Landmarks Live in Concert

Self

Uncharted

Self (archive footage)

DJ Juice: The King is Back Mixtape Blend DVD Vol. 70

Self

Kanye West: DONDA Experience Performance 2 22 22

Self

Alicia Keys - Live in New York

Self (uncredited) (archive footage)

Sesame Street: 40 Years of Sunny Days

Self

Hope for Haiti Now

Self

12-12-12 | The Concert for Sandy Relief

Self

Alicia Keys: iTunes Festival

Self

Genius. A Night for Ray Charles

Self

Alicia Keys - VH1 Storytellers

Self

Alicia Keys - Citi Concert Series Today Show

Self - Singer

Alicia Keys: Rock In Rio

Self

Platinum Party at the Palace

Self

Nas: Time Is Illmatic

Self

John Mayer: Someday I'll Fly

Self

Alicia Keys – The Element Of Freedom: Deluxe Edition

Self

The Best of Max

Self

A MusiCares Tribute to Carole King

Cantora

Apple Music Live: Alicia Keys

Self

Alicia Keys - Live at Capital's Jingle Bell Ball 2023, Night Two

Self

Alicia Keys - MTV Crashes Manchester

Self

Alicia Keys Taratata 2012

Alicia Keys

Jem and the Holograms

Self

Sinatra 100: An All-Star Grammy Concert

Self

Alicia Keys live North Sea Jazz

Self

They All Came Out to Montreux

Self

Post Malone: Runaway

Self

The Blackout - Fat Joe Vs Jay-Z At The Rucker

Self (archive footage)

Prince and His Songs at the BBC

Singer

Alicia Keys at the BBC

Self

Alicia Keys: Rock in Rio 2017

Zara

Let Me In

Self

Sesame Street: Elmo's Christmas Countdown

Self

Q: The Man

Narrator - Cambodia (voice)

Girl Rising

Self

The Gospel

Self - Performing Artist

Alicia Keys: Baloise Session 2017

Self

Clive Davis: The Soundtrack of Our Lives

Self

Aretha! A Grammy Celebration for the Queen of Soul

Self

Alicia Keys: From Start to Stardom

Self

The Night That Changed America: A Grammy Salute to the Beatles

A Celebration of Life for Kobe and Gianna Bryant

Self

FOX Presents the iHeart Living Room Concert for America

Self

One World: Together at Home

Self - Performer

America | A Tribute to Heroes

Self

Let's Go Crazy: The Grammy Salute to Prince

Self

Dear Class of 2020

Self

Alicia Keys - As I Am

Self - Singer

Alicia Keys - Here in Times Square

Self - Host

Every Vote Counts: A Celebration of Democracy

Self

Mademoiselle C

Self

Alicia Keys Live in Los Angeles

Self

Christina Aguilera: Stripped

Self

The Disappearance of Miss Scott

Self

The Re-Up