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Alicia Keys, is highly gifted, charismatic, gorgeous recording artist, musician and actress. Keys was raised by a single mother in the Hell’s Kitchen area of Manhattan , New York City. At age seven, the talented Alicia began playing classical music on the piano.

She attended Professional Performing Arts School, where she graduated at only 16 as valedictorian. She later attended Columbia University before dropping out for her destined golden music career.

Keys released her debut album with J Records. Her debut album, Songs in A Minor, was a huge success, selling over 12 million copies all over the world. She became the best-selling new artist and best-selling R&B artist of 2001. The album won Alicia Keys five Grammy Awards in 2002, among them Best New Artist and Song of the Year for Fallin’.
Her second studio album, The Diary of Alicia Keys, was released in 2003, and was another success worldwide, selling eight million copies. The album earned her four more Grammy Awards in 2005. Later that year, she released her first live album, Unplugged, which debuted at number one in the United States. She became the first female to have an MTV Unplugged album to debut at number one, and the highest since Nirvana in 1994.

The prolific artist came out with another incredible hit song, No One, in 2008, in which she also played mesmerizing piano with her poignant singing. Her rendition rivaled that of Jordan Sparks, who also was successful with the original. Keys has a vocal range of a contralto, that spans an exceptional three octaves, with a unique tone. She is called the “Princess of Soul”, and certainly makes a beautiful princess. All her music showcases her skill as an accomplished pianist, as well.

Birth Name: Alicia Augello Cook
Born: January 25, 1981, in New York City, New York

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