After being ousted from Arista Records, Clive Davis took Alicia and a handful of other artists with him to his new label, J Records. While Davis built up his new empire, Alicia wrote songs and performed at local New York shows to gain exposure. Waiting was just another barrier Alicia was forced to plow through. In the two years between being signed with J Records at 18 and her album being released at 20, Alicia was able to grow as an artist. Being caught in limbo may have been frustrating, but Alicia took the advice of her Nana, who often said, "that nothing worth striving for comes before its time."
Now, despite a roller coaster beginning, Alicia has gone platinum several times over with her debut CD "Songs In A Minor". She has taken home every award imaginable including the music industry's most coveted award, the Grammy. Not only did she take home the "Best New Artist" Grammy, but she also swept the show with four other wins including "Song of the Year" for her blockbuster debut single "Fallin'", "Best R&B Vocal Performance", "Best R&B Song", and "Best R&B Album". As awards are gained by the armload, this humble and down-to-earth young woman still takes it one day at a time. With the support of her family, close friends, and loyal fans, the future of this legend-in-the-making is destined to be long and bright. Although her talent got her where she is (on the cover of many magazines and in the hearts of music lovers), Keys credits the love of her fans for helping her succeed. Keys writes in a message to her fans on her official website, "I will NEVER take that for granted!!!!!! Believe me.˛
Now, in order to expand and build, she's deep into reading authors like Paul Laurence Dunbar, Toni Morrison, and autobiographies of musical great Quincy Jones and Assata Shakur, a political activist. She still plays piano every day, classical, jazz and old school, for inspiration. She also studies piano lessons at least once a week, and is continually writing and producing for herself and other artists through her company Krucial Keys Enterprise, along with her partner, Kerry "Krucial" Brothers. Plans and future dreams include establishing their own label, artist development and of course, making album #2 an intriguing, innovative and exciting musical collection! And that's just the beginning!
Alicia says of next 30+ years of her life, "I'm 21 now. When I'm 31, watch me. When I'm 41, watch me. When I'm 51, Oh don't hurt 'em too bad 'cause I will!"
These bio's were contributed by: Lauren Zumpano, Marine Terteryan, Katrina Lewis, and Juanita Hays.