THE FOLLOW-UP album, “The Diary of Alicia Keys,” released in 2003, picked up where “Songs In A Minor” had left off.
The lovely Keys had won an amazing five Grammy Awards for her introductory album, and for “The Diary of Alicia Keys” she received four more. Sales were given a boost by the back-to-back No. 1 singles, “You Don’t Know My Name” and “If I Ain’t Got You.”
Once again, there was specific reasoning behind the title: She is an avid diary keeper, describing it as a place where she can be “brutally honest,” which is because, as she put it, “I have to be peaceful, I have to be happy.” And she doesn’t believe that is possible with anything in the place of being real.
Following the release of a live album in 2005 (“Unplugged,” which also reached the apex of the charts), Keys opened her own recording studio in New York. It was designed by John Storyk, who also designed Jimi Hendrix’s famous Electric Lady Studio.
THE SUCCESS of her fourth album, “As I Am,” in 2007 proved that Keys’ creative juices were still flowing and that her popularity had not waned. Like its predecessors, it reached No. 1, selling a whopping 742,000 copies in seven days. Hit singles included “No One” and “Like You’ll Never See Me Again.”
Keys continued her winning ways with her most recent album, “The Element of Freedom.” But she had many other irons in the fire as well, including collaborationing with producer Swizz Beatz (real name: Kasseem Dean).
One of her most important collaborations was with Jay-Z, who asked her to guest on “Empire State of Mind,” a cut from his album “The Blueprint 3.” The song was a mega-hit, easily reaching No. 1. Some believe it may have been the most played single of 2009.
By this time Alicia Keys also had a long list of television and film acting credits.
Keys and Dean exchanged vows early this month, although their marriage received less publicity than it ordinarily would have due to the marriage of Chelsea Clinton, daughter of former president Bill Clinton and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
“I feel satisfied with what I’ve achieved,” said Keys, “But I never think I’ve reached the pinnacle.”
(Jason Donovan contributed to this story.)
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