New York-born Alicia Keys began taking piano lessons at age seven at her mother's insistence. She proved to be such a prodigy that she was later accepted into he prestigious Professional Performance Arts School of Manhattan, where she majored in choir. Not only her musical talent but also her grades proved to be so exceptional that she was allowed to graduate, as valedictorian, at age 16. In 1998, she signed with Arista Records, and wrote, produced and recorded her own albums. In 1999, she left Arista to join J Records, headed by legendary music impresario Clive Davis, and her success has been meteoric. Her 2001 debut album, "Songs in A Minor," sold six million copies and garnered five Grammys. Her album "Diary" won her four more Grammys in 2005.

Alicia J. Augello-Cook (born January 25, 1981), professionally known as Alicia Keys, is an American R&B and soul singer-songwriter, pianist, and actress. Keys has sold over 29 million albums worldwide and has won numerous awards, including eleven Grammy Awards, seventeen Billboard Music Awards, and three American Music Awards. Keys has a vocal range of a dramatic contralto, spanning three octaves. Keys cites Stevie Wonder as her biggest influence..

Alicia J. Augello-Cook, better known by her stage name Alicia Keys, is an American R&B and soul singer-songwriter. Keys was born in the Manhattan, in New York City, New York. she is the only daughter of Teresa "Terria" Augello, a paralegal and part-time actress, and Craig Cook, a flight attendant.