Alicia Keys

Alicia Keys (born Alicia Augello Cook on January 25, 1981 in Manhattan, New York) is an American R&B and Soul singer, composer, record producer, and pianist.

Biography

Family and musical background

Alicia was born to an Irish-Italian mother, Terri Augello, and a Jamaican father, Craig Cook, and was raised in the Hell's Kitchen neighborhood of New York City. Keys began playing piano when she was seven. She learned classical music by playing composers such as Beethoven, Mozart, and Chopin, who was her favorite composer. She wrote her first song "Butterflyz" at the age of fourteen; the song can be found on her debut album. Keys' mother was the one who most supported her during the time she was developing her talents. Keys' mother and father separated during her early childhood, thus she was raised by her mother during her formative years. However, Keys has now reconciled her relationship with her fatherhttp://www.eurweb.com/story.cfm?id=19412.

Related Topics:
Irish - Italian - Jamaican - Hell's Kitchen - New York City - Beethoven - Mozart - Chopin

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Education

Keys graduated as valedictorian from the Professional Performing Arts School, a public high school in Manhattan at the age of sixteen. She briefly attended Columbia University on a scholarship before devoting herself to a full-time musical career. Following her mentor Clive Davis to his newly-formed J Records label, she released her debut album Songs in A Minor in 2001, the title being a reference to both her classical aspirations and to the fact that she wrote most of the songs at a very young age.

Related Topics:
Valedictorian - Professional Performing Arts School - Manhattan - Columbia University - Clive Davis - J Records - Songs in A Minor - 2001

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