It sold over 159,000 copies in the first week. In November 2012, Keys released Girl on Fire, her fifth chart-topping album in the US. This was followed by ‘Nanny Diaries’ in 2007.Īs if Keys couldn’t get any more talented, she made her directorial debut in 2011 for the short film “Project 5.” The film centers on the stories of five different individuals, all battling breast cancer. Her first film stint was for ‘Smokin’ Aces,’ a 2006 action thriller written and directed by Joe Carnahan. It was also Keys’ first album to top the charts in the UK. She is also the second American artist ever to receive five Grammys in a single night.Īll of her albums except for her fourth, The Element of Freedom, peaked at No. ‘Best New Artist’ and ‘Song of the Year’ for “Fallin’’” are a few of her accolades. Her debut album, Songs in A Minor, sold over 12 million copies worldwide and earned Keys 5 Grammy Awards in 2002. She’s been friends with Usher and Beyoncé since she was 13. For the record, Adele and Taylor Swift have ten and Rihanna only eight.
ALICIA KEYS FAMILY FACTS CRACK
One of the lesser-known facts about Alicia Keys is her odd habit-the girl loves to crack her neck!Īlicia Keys is a 15-time Grammy winner. However, her mom intervened, saying, “It sounds like you’re a stripper.” It was her manager who suggested “ Keys.” She turned out to like it as it resonated with her more as a performer and a person. When she was 14, she composed her first song, “Butterfly’.” She would, later on, include it in her first album.Īt the age of 16, Alicia wanted the name Wilde to be her stage surname.
She studied the piano at age seven and played classics by Beethoven, Chopin, and Mozart. In 1985, she featured in the Slumber Party episode of the Cosby Show. Her mother is of Scottish, Irish, and Italian descent, while her father is African-American. She was born to Teresa Augello, a paralegal and part-time actress, and Craig Cook, a flight attendant. Her real name is Alicia Augello-Cook and she was born in Harlem, New York. Today the R&B/ Soul singer turns 36 so we’re taking a look at 10 interesting and lesser known fun facts about Alicia Keys’ life and career. The couple have a son, Egypt Daoud Ibarr Dean, born October 14, 2010.With her new album HERE, political activism and decision to go makeup free, Alicia Keys was one of 2016’s most prominent artists. Personal Life:Īlicia Keys married hip hop star Swizz Beatz on July 31, 2010. 10 on their 2010 compilation of “Top 50 R&B/Hip-Hop Artists of the Past 25 Years”. In 2010, she was included on VH1’s “100 Greatest Artists of All Time”. Awards and Accolades:Īlicia Keys was honored with three NAACP Image Awards and the Starlight Award by the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2006. She was widely acclaimed for her discipline and focus as an actress.īesides her singing career, Keys has also become an accomplished record producer, social activist and entrepreneur. In 2008, Keys played “June Boatwright” in The Secret Life of Bees alongside Jennifer Hudson and Queen Latifah. Her film debut happened in 2006, when she starred in Smokin’ Aces. She released four more albums since her debut: The Diary of Alicia Keys (2003), As I Am (2007), The Element of Freedom (2009) and Girl on Fire (2012). Keys won five categories at the Grammy awards in 2002, including Best New Artist and Song of the Year. Keys was only 20 years old when she released her debut album, Songs in A Minor (2001), which peaked at number one on the Billboard 200 chart and sold over 12 million copies since its release. She attended college for a brief period of time and decided to pursue music as a career when secured a record deal from Columbia Records.
ALICIA KEYS FAMILY FACTS PROFESSIONAL
Career and Musical Achievements:Īlicia Keys was only 16 when she graduated as valedictorian from the Professional Performing Arts School, a public art institution in Manhattan. A quick learner, she began performing the music of Beethoven, Mozart and Chopin at an early age. Keys was given into the custody of her mother, who introduced her to piano and music at seven years old. Widely credited as one of the most popular R&B artists of her generation, she has sold more than 35 million albums worldwide.īorn “Alicia Augello Cook” on Januin the notorious locality of Hell’s Kitchen in New York City, her Jamaican father and Irish-Italian mother divorced when she was very young. Alicia Keys is an American R&B singer, musician, and actress.