Alicia Keys
A Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter, Alicia Keys is one of the most celebrated female names in the R&B Music. Her first album, Songs in a Minor went platinum five times over and earned five Grammys. The successful artist started her career at the age of 13 by performing in local clubs and events. She later completed her formal education from the Performance Arts School and began her professional career. The singer is also popular in the field of television and films. She has enacted and appeared in numerous films and TV series. She has also served as a mentor and musical coach for several shows. She was one of the judges of The Voice US from 2011-18. She has also won millions of hearts for her humanitarian work, philanthropy, and activism.
Keys is married to fellow R&B artist Swizz Beatz since 2010 and the two are proud parents of their two children named Egypt Daoud Dean and Genesis Ali Dean.
Early Life And Education Of Alicia Keys
Alicia Keys was born on 25, January 1981 in New York City in the U.S.A. Her father’s name is Craig Crook and her mother’s name is Terresa Augello. Her mother is a former actress and she is also a paralegal while her father was a flight attendant. She is an American Citizen with a mixed ethnic background; Irish, Italian and Afro-American Ethnicity.
Her mother is an American and her father is a Jamaican. She was admitted in Professional Performing Art School from where she majored in choir and later she graduated as valedictorian. She tried to pursue her study at Cambridge University but she dropped out to continue her career in the field of music.
She did not celebrate her childhood much, her parents’ divorce at an early age. Then, she was raised by her single mother in Manhattan.
Keys was interested in giving shows and exhibiting talents from an early age. She first appeared in The Cosby Show in her early age of 4. She started taking piano and dance cla s ses when she was five. When she was seven, she already learned to play cla s sical music like Beethoven.
Alicia Keys' Career
Songs and Albums
In 1994, manager Jeff Robinson met her when she participated in his brother's youth organization.
Her first deal was with So So Def Records which never produced an album. Later, she signed to Arista Records where she recorded 2 more songs and released her first album Songs in a Minor in 2001.
CAPTION: Young Alicia Keys SOURCE: Pinterest
The album was very hit and went five times platinum. Some of her hit singles were You don’t know my name, Diary and If I Ain’t Got you”.
Critics roundly praised the albums’ music and lyrics part. She released her second album The Diary of Alivia Keys in 2003. The album debuted at #1 position in the US Billboard chart. She also featured with Usher on the son My Boo from that album.
She seemingly unstoppable career continued in 2007 with the release of her third album As I Am. The album also debuted at #1 at the US Billboard. It sold 740K plus copies in its first week. In 2008, she recorded a new song Another way to Die with Jack White for the James Bond film franchise, Quantum of Solace. Following year, she recorded a single Empire State of Mind with fellow artist Jay-Z.
She released her fourth studio album The Element of Freedom. It debuted at no.2 with its lead single Doesn’t Mean Anything reached #60 on the Billboard Hot 100. Her fifth studio album Girl on Fire came out in 2012 and back at her top spot, debuting at no. 1. She released her sixth studio album Here in 2016 which debuted at the #2 in the US Billboard chart. As of July 2018, the albums’ 160K copies have been sold.
Film And Television
Besides music, Alicia Keys has also appeared in films numerous and television programs. In 1985, she appeared as one of the Keshia Knight Pulliam’s friends on The Cosby Show. She later enacted in several series Charmed (1996-42), American Dreams (2002-05) and the Backyardigans (2004).
CAPTION: Singer/Actress Alicia Keys SOURCE: Elle
She debuted in an action movie Smokin’ Aces in 2006. Following, she enacted in two films The Nanny Diaries (2007) and The Secret Life of Bees (2008), alongside renowned actresses Queen Latifah and Jennifer Hudson. Keys frequently performed hallelujah on Saturday Night Live in 2016.
From 2016-18, Keys was one of the main judges in the singing reality show, The Voice US. She has also appeared in other programs like Saturday Night Live (SNL), Empire, The Voice Germany, and Landmark Live: Great Performances.
Alicia Keys' Net Worth, Salary And Charity
A multi-persona Alicia keys’ net worth is $70 million, as of July 2018, as per the Celebrity Net Worth. She has earned this amount of figure from her successful music plus television and film career. Her net worth is reducing these days. In 2013, her net worth was $130 million which reduced to $70 million as of 2018.
Keys' albums have earned over $10 million worldwide. Her husband also has $70 million net worth. She was paid an $8 million salary from one episode of The Voice US. Keys has also endorsed several brands and appeared in commercials of numerous products.
Keys resides in a lavish mansion in Englewood, New Jersey. The house is valued at $14.9 million which features 8 bedrooms and 10 full and 4 half bathrooms. The couple also has a lavish car of Lotus Evora’s GTE brand.
Alivia Keys' Charity Work
Alivia Keys has an also a pa s sion for humanity. He is also involved in numerous charitable events and movements. She is a co-founder of Keep the child Alive and she has also directly participated in fundraising for lots of causes. She has also featured in several charitable concerts. She and her husband have advocated for LGBTI group and AIDS victims.
Alicia Keys' Awards And Achievements
Keys is the awardee of several prestigious awards like Grammy, MTV and other musical awards due to her musical career. She claimed 4 awards in 2010 one of which was for Best New Artist in a Video at MTV Video Music Awards.
Later, in 2002, she received 22 awards. She won in the category of Favorite New Artist She also won the award for best female R&B vocal Performance for Fallin.
In the year 2005, she won 19 awards. She received Best Female R& B Vocal Performance and Best Female Artist. Her album received Grammy for best album for The Diary of Alicia Keys. In 2006, she won 3 following 16 wins in the year of 2008. She won Grammy Award for Best R&B Album in 2014.
She has also earned a royalty from her books which are available on Amazon. She released her first book Tears of Water: Songbook of Poems and Lyrics in 2004. Her fourth book Blue Moon: From the Journals of Mama Mae and LeeLee came out in 2014 which she co-authored with Jessica Walton. The books’ hardcover is available for $15 on Amazon.
Alicia Keys' Personal Life, Married, Husband, Children
Alivia Keys is a married woman. She is married to hip-hop artist and producer Swizz Beatz since 2010. The couple dated for a long time until they declared their engagement in March 2010. They also announced that the couple was expecting their first child during their engagement reveal in May 2010.
They held a Zulu ceremony to bless their unborn child in the Illovo suburb of Johannesburg, South Africa during the 2010 FIFA World Cup. They wed in an intimate ceremony on July 31, 2010, in a private ceremony near the Mediterranean Sea.
CAPTION: Alicia Keys with her husband and two children SOURCE: Dailymail
The couple welcomed their first child, a son named Egypt Daoud Dean in October 2010. After nearly four years, they gave birth to their second son, Genesis Ali Dean in December 2014.
The couple also attends several events and functions. They kissed in the red carpet of BET Award 2016. The power couple has been sharing the wonderful married life and still savoring every moment they have together.
Keys’ husband Swizz Beatz (Ka s seem Dean) is a hip-hop artist, DJ, and producer. A New York-born artist began his musical career as a DJ at the age of 16 in his hometown. He rose to fame through his friendship and collaborative work with East Coast rapper DMX and the Ruff Ryders Entertainment record label.
He is also a fashion designer and became a partner involved in the popular clothing company Kidrobot in 2003. He is also endorsed several brands including Monster GODJ, Reebok, and Lotus Cars. In 2011, he won the Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group Award with Drake & T.I for the song Fancy. He has released two R&B albums to date.
In January 2017, a day after Donald Trump’s presidential inauguration, Keys joined the event along with a lineup of celebrity activists including Angela Davis, Madonna, Cher, Scarlett Johansson, and Gloria Steinem.
Alivia Keys' Height, Age, And Other Facts
- Height: She is 5.7' (1.74) m tall.
- Weight: She weighs 57 kg.
- Body measurement: Her body figure is 34-26-37 inches.
- Wais Size: 26 Inch
- Bra Size: 34 Inch
- Hip Size: 38 inch
- Hair Color: Black
- Eye Color: Dark Brown
- Age: January 25, 1981 (age 38)
- Workout: She does regular exercise to stay fit and healthy; dumbbells, cardio, and others.
Here is the short biography of Keys, you should watch.