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Around the time that Songs in A minor was released, Keys was
popping up everywhere, including an Associated Press story. Where had she
been before then? Her entire life, it seems, had been an accelerated
learning experience, preparing her for a career in music. A Manhattan
native, her musical gifts became apparent when she was five years old. As
a choir major enrolled in Manhattan's Professional Performance Arts
School, she further developed her vocal talents with extra help from a
teacher. By the time she was 16, Keys graduated and entered Columbia
University. Music beckoned, however, and she quickly left Columbia behind.
Keys was writing songs when she was 14, with seven years of piano
lessons under her belt by that time. In later years, she appeared on movie
soundtracks, including Shaft and Men in Black. In 1998, she
signed a deal with Arista Records when the company triumphed in a bidding
war over other labels. When Davis left the company for J Records in 1999,
Keys went along. Davis promoted the careers of such artists as Carlos
Santana and Whitney Houston, and part of his launch strategy for Keys was
to secure exposure on BET and MTV, as well as on The Oprah Winfrey Show.
Her 2001 major label debut, Songs in A Minor, went multi-platinum,
and was followed in 2003 by the Grammy-winning smash, The Diary of
Alicia Keys.
Because of her musical upbringing and talent Keys’ songs has
bridged the genres of pop/R&B with their forefathers jazz, classical,
and blues. This diverse music coupled with her amazing vocal prowess has
earned her a multitude of fans that spans the generations. With a strong
base and what seems to be limitless creativity and musical talent, it is
clear that Alicia Keys’ career will have the longevity of the ‘90s
divas like Whitney Huston and Mariah Carey.
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