Alicia Keys Biography

R&B singer Alicia Keys released her first album, Songs in A Minor, in 2001. She was only 20 years old. The album featured the hit singles "Fallin'" and "Girlfriend" and rocketed Keys to stardom. (Her good looks -- she's of African and Italian descent -- helped, too.) She won five Grammy awards in 2002, including Best New Artist and Song of the Year for "Fallin'." Alicia Keys also has been a prolific soundtrack artist, recording songs for movies such as Men in Black (1997), Shaft (2000) and Dr. Doolittle 2 (2001). She has also appeared in the movies in acting roles. Her films include Smokin' Aces ((2006, with Andy Garcia) and The Nanny Diaries (2007, starring Scarlett Johansson). Alicia Keys's other music albums include The Diary of Alicia Keys (2003) and the live album Unplugged (2005). Her 2009 single with rap impresario Jay-Z, "Empire State of Mind," was one of the biggest hits of the year.