Alicia Keys

Alicia Augello Cook, known as Alicia Keys, was born on January 25, 1981 in the Hell's Kitchen neighborhood of New York City. The daughter of an Italian-Irish mother and an African-American father, she grew up with her mother after her parents separated. She studied classical piano from childhood and was admitted to the Professional Performing Arts School in Manhattan, graduating early. At sixteen she signed her first record deal; shortly after she moved to Arista and then to Clive Davis's J Records, which backed her debut.

In 2001 she released "Songs In A Minor", an album weaving together soul, R&B and classical training. The single "Fallin'" established her internationally. The record sold over ten million copies and earned her five Grammy Awards in 2002, including Best New Artist and Song Of The Year. Her piano-centred approach, contralto timbre and songwriting focused on independence and vulnerability defined her signature style from the start.

In 2003 came "The Diary Of Alicia Keys", which consolidated her success with tracks like "You Don't Know My Name" and "If I Ain't Got You". These were followed by "As I Am" (2007), driven by "No One", and "The Element Of Freedom" (2009), which expanded her production towards more contemporary pop sounds. In the following years she released "Girl On Fire" (2012), "Here" (2016), "Alicia" (2020) and "Keys" (2021), alternating introspection with collaborations with producers and artists from the hip-hop and R&B world.

Alongside her musical career, Keys has acted in films and television series and served as a coach on "The Voice" in the United States. In 2016 she announced her decision to appear in public without makeup, a choice that became an integral part of her image and of a narrative centred on authenticity.

She has been married since 2010 to producer Swizz Beatz (Kasseem Dean) and has two children. On the philanthropic front, she is co-founder of the organization Keep A Child Alive, committed to the fight against HIV/AIDS in Africa and India.

With over 65 million records sold worldwide and numerous international accolades, Alicia Keys holds a stable position in the 21st-century R&B landscape, standing out for putting the piano at the centre of the mainstream and for a repertoire that combines soul tradition with contemporary production.

In 2026 she takes part in the Sanremo Festival, duetting with Eros Ramazzotti on "L'Aurora" and performing on piano one of her hits, "Empire State Of Mind", released in 2009 alongside rapper Jay-Z.

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