Alisha
Keys
is Hot in 2006
Alicia Keys is bright and accomplished. She was born January 25, 1981, in 
Manhattan,
New York. This very talented star began her career at the age of four with
a role in the wizard of Oz. She is a true musical prodigy whose
multi-dimensional gifts emerged at a very early age, her wit and
intelligence are almost too hard to perceive.
Born and raised in Manhattan, New York, bi-racial Alicia Keys is quite a talent whose various and gifts came to light when she was only about five years old. Keys grew up receiving influences from numerous sources. Her mother, very supportive of Alicia’s dreams, told Alicia that she could quit anything else, but she could never give up on her piano lessons. Because of this, Alicia continues to play the piano today. Alicia was also influenced by an instructor she had while she was majoring in Choir at the Professional Performance Arts School in Manhattan. The instructor gave Alicia beneficial guidance on her voice. "This teacher spent so much time with me, she became the closest thing to vocal training I received," Alicia says.
Because of her exceptional grades, Alicia was allowed to finish high
school at the early age of 16. "I was so deeply involved in music, I
had already outgrown all
the pressure of high school cliques and gossip." Columbia University
immediately accepted Keys and she decided to take advantage of the offer,
but her deep interest in music continues to prevail over everything else.
In the midst of being fought over by record labels, Alicia signed to Clive Davis’ Arista Records in 1998 and from then, she continued through the procedure of writing, producing, and recording the debut album which she had been creating since the tender age of 14.
In late 1999, Alicia got with J Records, another label belonging to Clive Davis. With the release of her debut, Songs in A Minor, a star has been born. Most of the songs on the album were written and arranged by Keys herself. The profound, mellow, emotional, and soulful album has introduced us to a young woman who is wise-beyond-her-years. Keys’ mélange of touching and powerful vocals, exquisite piano skills, and exhilarating performances (and the braids) could possibly make her a Roberta Flack-esque or Stevie Wonder-esque legend in the future.Now, in order to expand and build, she's deep into reading authors like Paul Laurence Dunbar, Toni Morrison, and autobiographies of musical great Quincy Jones and Assata Shakur, a political activist. She still plays piano every day, classical, jazz and old school, for inspiration. She also studies piano lessons at least once a week, and is continually writing and producing for herself and other artists through her company Krucial Keys Enterprise, along with her partner, Kerry "Krucial" Brothers. Plans and future dreams include establishing their own label, artist development and of course, making album #2 an intriguing, innovative and exciting musical collection! And that's just the beginning!
Alicia says of next 30+ years of her life, "I'm 21 now. When I'm 31, watch me. When I'm 41, watch me. When I'm 51, Oh don't hurt 'em too bad 'cause I will!"
Keys certainly has had an overwhelming start in the music industry, but she seems undeterred by the pressure of releasing her much-awaited 2003 sophomore album, The Diary Of Alicia Keys. Keys is also currently writing and producing for other artists through her company Krucial Keys Enterprise, along with her partner Kerry "Krucial" Brothers. 2004 is clearly the year of Alica Keys.
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