In 2001, when the debut album of Alicia Keys, “Songs In A Minor” featuring the No. 1 hit “Fallin’,” was released, the industry and the public took more than casual notice. The assumption was that a new star had arrived, one who would have staying power.
That assumption proved to be correct because Keys — singer, pianist, songwriter, producer, actress — is now firmly entrenched along with the other superdivas of the day, including Mary J. Blige, Beyoncé Knowles, Erykah Badu and Rihanna.
Some wondered why she chose that particular, rather usual title, which certainly was not identifying her as “a minor.”
Keys (born Alicia Augello Cook) was happy to explain.
“One of my favorite keys to play in is A minor,” she said. “It’s a very moody key. It is also the first letter of my name. It just represents the songs through my eyes.”
EVERYTHING she sings, writes and plays has to come from a place deep within.
“I would hate to make music and have people love me for something that isn’t me,” she said. “If I don’t love it, I will not record it.”
It’s called truth in art.
Born in New York City, Keys began playing piano at the early age of 7. She had fallen in love with the piano, noting, “I knew it was me. I was dying to play.”
Fittingly, her mother (Terri Augello, a single parent), recognizing the gift, enrolled her prodigy daughter in Professional Performing Arts School in New York. There she became proficient at classical piano, a good foundation to build upon as her career progressed.
Graduating at age 16, she then moved on to Columbia University. However, Keys, who recalls writing her first song at 13, decided to drop out and work full time on her career. It was big chance, but she felt compelled to take it.
Like most recording artist hopefuls, Keys sent out demo tapes to the major record companies, envisioning wide exposure for her music and, of course, acceptance.
She needn’t have worried because “Songs In A Minor” was one of the most successful debut albums of all time, selling well not only in the United States but several other countries as well. In the US it sold a very impressive 236,000 copies within a week of its release. That was a definite confidence builder.
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.)