This page will contain news stories about Alicia Keys, as they become available.Alicia KeysAlicia KeysAlicia Keys (born Alicia Augello-Cook on January 25, 1981 in Manhattan, New York City, USA) is a popular R&B/soul vocalist and pianist. She was born to a Italian mother, Terri Augello, and a Black father, Craig Cook and was raised in the Hell's Kitchen section of New York City. Alicia's maternal grandmother is Puerto Rican. She began playing piano when she was seven. She learned classical music by composers such as Beethoven, Mozart and Chopin, who was her favorite composer. She wrote her first song "Butterflyz" at the age of fourteen; the song can be found on her debut album. Keys's mother was the one who most supported her during the time when Keys was developing her talents. Keys graduated as valedictorian from the Professional Performing Arts School, a public high school in Manhattan at the age of 16 years old. She briefly attended Columbia University on a scholarship before devoting herself to a full-time musical career. Following her mentor Clive Davis to his newly-formed J Records label, she released her debut album Songs in A Minor, the title being a reference to both her classical aspirations and to the fact that she wrote most of the songs while still being very young. Songs in A Minor was a commercially successful album. With it she won five Grammy Awards in 2002 (see 2002 in music). Because she wrote her own songs and played several instruments very well, consumers saw Keys as an original voice at a time when the musical marketplace was flooded with pop bands that were little more than an attractive front for the creative energies of others. As such, she established a large fanbase of devoted fans, making her one of the most popular artists of the early years of the twenty-first century. Critical reviews were mostly positive. Keys' work had a sound similar to 1970s soul singers like Curtis Mayfield and Marvin Gaye, with hip hop influences like those apparent in neo soul artists like Lauryn Hill, Erykah Badu and D'Angelo. Some critics went on to accuse her of outright plagiarism, especially in the case of her single "Fallin'", which interpolates James Brown's "It's A Man's World" right down to the string arrangement. In late 2003, Keys released her second album, The Diary of Alicia Keys, which shot straight up to the top of the Billboard R&B charts, selling over 610,000 copies its 1st week. At the 47th Annual Grammy Awards ceremonies held on February 13, 2005, she gave a powerful solo performance of the single "If I Ain't Got You", and then joined Jamie Foxx and Quincy Jones in a stirring rendition of the Hoagy Carmichael song made famous by the late Ray Charles, "Georgia On My Mind". She eventually went home with 4 Grammys (Best R&B Album for The Diary of Alicia Keys; Best Female R&B Vocal Performance for "If I Ain't Got You"; Best R&B Song for "You Don't Know My Name"); and Best R&B Duo or Group ("My Boo" with Usher). Keys became an Honorary Member of Alpha Kappa Alpha (http://www.aka1908.com) Sorority, Inc. on September 24, 2004. She is planning to release an Unplugged album in April 2005. Vocal Profile
DiscographyStudio Albums
Singles
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Keys became an Honorary Member of Alpha Kappa Alpha (http://www.aka1908.com) Sorority, Inc. Besides the many private colleges and universities in the state, New York, like many other states, operates its own system of institutions of higher learning known as the State University of New York System (SUNY). She eventually went home with 4 Grammys (Best R&B Album for The Diary of Alicia Keys; Best Female R&B Vocal Performance for "If I Ain't Got You"; Best R&B Song for "You Don't Know My Name"); and Best R&B Duo or Group ("My Boo" with Usher). The New York State Board of Regents, the University of the State of New York and the State Education Department control all public primary and secondary education in the state. At the 47th Annual Grammy Awards ceremonies held on February 13, 2005, she gave a powerful solo performance of the single "If I Ain't Got You", and then joined Jamie Foxx and Quincy Jones in a stirring rendition of the Hoagy Carmichael song made famous by the late Ray Charles, "Georgia On My Mind". Its major cities and towns are:. In late 2003, Keys released her second album, The Diary of Alicia Keys, which shot straight up to the top of the Billboard R&B charts, selling over 610,000 copies its 1st week. (See also List of cities in New York). Some critics went on to accuse her of outright plagiarism, especially in the case of her single "Fallin'", which interpolates James Brown's "It's A Man's World" right down to the string arrangement. Albany is the state capital, and New York City is the largest city. Keys' work had a sound similar to 1970s soul singers like Curtis Mayfield and Marvin Gaye, with hip hop influences like those apparent in neo soul artists like Lauryn Hill, Erykah Badu and D'Angelo. While some aspects of this pedagogy may seem quaint today, the Institution helped assure that high intellectual achievement would be recognized as consistent with the value system of an emerging powerful Midwest, and was one of several ways that Upstate New York served between the Civil War and World War II as a transmitting intermediary between the standards of the East Coast and the interior agricultural regions of the central states. Critical reviews were mostly positive. The Institution, which still exists, offers to a predominately middle class and Mid-American clientele a very high standard of intellectual summer lectures, mixed with certain elements of folksy relgious camp meetings, such as outdoor recreation and musical events. As such, she established a large fanbase of devoted fans, making her one of the most popular artists of the early years of the twenty-first century. John Vincent and devoted to adult continuing education in a uplifting setting, as that ambiance was understood in the last half of the Nineteenth Century. Because she wrote her own songs and played several instruments very well, consumers saw Keys
as an original voice at a time when the musical marketplace was flooded with pop bands that were little more than an attractive
front for the creative energies of others. At Chautauqua Lake in the southwestern portion of the state is the Chautauqua Institution, co-founded by Methodist Rev. With it she won five Grammy Awards in 2002 (see 2002 in music). Immigration has given New York an unusually diverse composition of religious groups in which no one denomination
has an overwhelming numerical superiority. Songs in A Minor was a commercially successful album. She briefly attended Columbia University on a scholarship before devoting herself to a full-time musical career. New York is home to more of America's Jews (25% of their national total), Muslims (24%), Taoists (26%), and Greek Orthodox (17%) than any other state.[2] (http://www.gc.cuny.edu/press_information/archived_releases/october_2001_aris.htm). Keys graduated as valedictorian from the Professional Performing Arts School, a public high school in Manhattan at the age of 16 years old. In 2001, the five largest denominations in New York were: Roman Catholic (about 38% of total state population), Baptist (7%), Methodist (6%), Jewish (5%) and Lutheran (3%). Keys's mother was the one who most supported her during the time when Keys was developing her talents. According to the July 1, 2004 Census Bureau Estimate [1] (http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/GCTTable?_bm=y&-geo_id=04000US36&-_box_head_nbr=GCT-T1&-ds_name=PEP_2004_EST&-_lang=en&-redoLog=false&-mt_name=PEP_2004_EST_GCTT1_ST2&-format=ST-2&-_sse=on), New York City and its six closest New York State satellite counties (Suffolk, Nassau, Westchester, Rockland, Putnam and Orange) have a combined population of 12,626,200 people, or 65.67% of the state's population. She wrote her first song "Butterflyz" at the age of fourteen; the song can be found on her debut album. The bulk of New York's population lives within two hours of the city. She learned classical music by composers such as Beethoven, Mozart and Chopin, who was her favorite composer. Females made up approximately 51.8% of the population. She began playing piano when she was seven. 6.5% of New York's population were reported as under 5, 24.7% under 18, and 12.9% were 65 or older. Alicia's maternal grandmother is Puerto Rican. The top 5 ancestry groups in New York are African American (15.9%), Italian (14.4%), Irish (12.9%), German (11.2%), English (6%). She was born to a Italian mother, Terri Augello, and a Black father, Craig Cook and was raised in the Hell's Kitchen section of New York City. The racial makeup of the state was:. Alicia Keys (born Alicia Augello-Cook on January 25, 1981 in Manhattan, New York City, USA) is a popular R&B/soul vocalist and pianist. According to 2003 estimate, 20.4% of the population was foreign-born. 2004 "Karma" #20 US. According to the US Census Bureau, as of 2004, New York was the third largest state in population after California and Texas, with a population of 19,227,088, a 0.2% increase over the 2003 population (19,190,115). 2004 "My Boo" (with Usher) #1 US, #5 UK - Platinum certification. Most cities have Farmers' markets which are well supplied by local truck farmers. Tony! Toni! Tone!) #8 US. Most commercial beekeepers are migratory, taking their hives to southern states for the winter. 2004 "Diary" (feat. The honeybees are also used for pollination of fruits and vegetables. 2004 "If I Ain't Got You" #4 US, #18 UK - Platinum certification. New York is rich in nectar-producing plants and is a major honey-producing state. 2003 "You Don't Know My Name" #3 US, #19 UK. Cheese is a major product, often produced by Amish or Mennonite farm cheeseries. 2002 "Girlfriend" #24 UK. Dairy farms are present throughout much of the state. Alicia Keys) #2 US, #6 UK. The glaciers also left numerous swampy areas, which have been drained for the rich humus soils called muckland which is mostly used for onions, potatoes, celery and other vegetables. 2002 "Gangsta Lovin'" (Eve feat. The Hudson and Mohawk valleys are known for pumpkins and blueberries. 2002 "How Come You Don't Call Me" #59 US, #26 UK. Particularly in the western part of the state, sweet corn, peas, carrots, squash, cucumbers and other vegetables are grown. 2002 "A Woman's Worth" #7 US, #18 UK. Row crops, including hay, maize, wheat, oats, barley, and soybeans, are grown. Alicia Keys and Eve) #37 UK. New York was heavily glaciated in the ice age leaving much of the state with deep, fertile, though somewhat rocky soils. 2002 "Brotha Part II" (Angie Stone feat. New York State is the nation's third-largest wine-producing state, behind California and Washington State. 2001 "Fallin'" #1 US, #3 UK. The south shore of Lake Erie and the southern Finger Lakes hillsides have many vineyards. 1). Apples are also grown in the Hudson Valley and near Lake Champlain. 2003: The Diary of Alicia Keys [4x Platinum--U.S.] (2 weeks at No. The south shore of Lake Ontario provides the right mix of soils and microclimate for many apple, cherry, plum, pear and peach orchards. 1). The state has about a quarter of its land in farms and produced 3.4 billion dollars in agricultural products in 2001. 2001: Songs in A Minor [6x Platinum--U.S.] (3 weeks at No. New York State is an agricultural leader, ranking within the top five states for a number of products including dairy, apples, cherries, cabbage, potatoes, onions, maple syrup and many other products. Longest Note:. The only major liquid output at present is salt in the form of brine; however, there are also small to moderate petroleum reserves in this area. Vocal Range: [approx.]2.5 octaves (C3-E5). Finally in the inland southwestern part of the state in the Allegheny Plateau is a region of drilled wells. Lowest note: C3 (The Life). It should be noted that the Adirondacks are not part of the Appalachian system, despite their location, but are structurally part of the mineral-rich Canadian Shield. Highest note: E5 (You Don't Know My Name). This is an area of very specialized products, including talc, industrial garnets, and zinc. Voice type: Contralto. The second area is the Adirondack Mountains. Primarily, this area specializes in construction materials for the many projects in the city, but its also contains the emery mines of Westchester County, one of two locations in the USA where that mineral is extracted. The first is near New York City. New York's mining sector, which is larger than most people think, is concentrated in three areas. The famous Fulton Fish Market has been moved to the Bronx. Perhaps the best known aspect of the fishing sector is the famous Fulton Fish Market in New York City, which distributes not only the New York catch, but imported seafood from all over the world. There used to be a large oyster fishery in New York waters as well, but at present, oysters comprise only a small portion of the total value of seafood harvested. The principal catches by value are clams, lobsters, squid, and flounder. There is a moderately large saltwater commercial fishery located along the Atlantic side of Long Island. Some industries are concentrated in outstate locations also, such as ceramics (the southern tier of counties) and photographic equipment (Rochester). The state also has a large manufacturing sector which includes printing, garments, furs, railroad rolling stock, and bus line vehicles. In addition, many of the world's largest corporations locate their headquarters home offices in Manhattan or in nearby Westchester County, New York. New York is best known for its tertiary sector specializing in foreign trade, together with banking, port facilities, advertising, warehousing, and other activities needed to support large-scale commerce. Its industrial outputs are printing and publishing, scientific instruments, electric equipment, machinery, chemical products, and tourism. New York's agricultural outputs are dairy products, cattle and other livestock, vegetables, nursery stock, and apples. Its 2003 Per Capita Personal Income was $36,112, placing it 6th in the nation. The Bureau of Economic Analysis (http://www.bea.gov/) estimates that in 2003, the total gross state product was $822 billion, second only to California. It is the leading center of banking, finance and communication in the United States and is the location of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on Wall Street, Manhattan. New York City dominates the economy of the state. Very large trees can even grow in the New York metropolitan area (for example, the Queens Giant is the tallest tree in the NY metro area and the oldest living thing in the NY metro area.). Trees have played a major role in the surrounding areas of New York. All three areas share geologic and ecological characteristics common along the Atlantic Coastal Plain of the U.S. Much of the region's ecosystem is similar to the larger New Jersey Pinelands (also called "pine barrens") to the south and southwest of NY City, along with Cape Cod's pine barrens. This region is the largest remnant of a forest thought to have once encompassed over a quarter million acres (1,000 kmē) on Long Island following the last glacial advance some 15,000 to 20,000 years ago. This remarkably undeveloped region overlies part of Long Island's federally designated Sole Source Aquifer which provides drinking water to nearly three million residents, and it contains terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems of statewide and national significance, interconnected surface and ground waters, recreational areas, historic locales, farmlands, and residential communities. Three of Suffolk County's ten townships - Brookhaven, Riverhead, and Southampton - are host to the 102,500 acre (415 kmē) State designated and protected Central Pine Barrens region. The two counties that you encounter as you travel east from NY City are Nassau and Suffolk. East of New York City extends the appropriately named "Long Island", stretching approximately 120 miles (190 km) from Brooklyn and Queens Counties (part of NY City) on the western end to Orient and Montauk Points in the rural "East End" of the Island. The highest elevation in New York is Mount Marcy in the Adirondacks. Upstate New York
includes the Catskill and Adirondack Mountains, the Shawangunk
Ridge, the Finger and Great Lakes in the west and Lake Champlain, Lake George, and Oneida Lake in the northeast, and rivers such as the Delaware, Genesee, Hudson, Mohawk, and Susquehanna. Which of the suburban counties north of The Bronx along the Hudson River (Rockland, Westchester, and Putnam) count as "Upstate" depends on who is making the list. "Upstate" is a common term for New York State north of the New
York City metropolitan area; but many of those outside of the NYC metropolitan area find the term demeaning because it is
emblematic of the cultural and demographic divide which separates the two areas, one rural and conservative, the other urban and
liberal. The eastern end of Long Island includes suburban Nassau and Suffolk Counties. Brooklyn (Kings) and Queens (Queens) are across the East River from Manhattan on the western end of Long Island and Staten Island (Richmond) is south of Manhattan. The five New York City boroughs (and their counties) are: The Bronx (Bronx) on the mainland north of Manhattan (New York) on Manhattan Island; the Hudson River is their western boundary. Four of New York City's five boroughs are on the three islands at the mouth of the Hudson River Manhattan Island, Staten Island, and Long Island. Lake George empties at its north end into Lake Champlain, whose northern end extends into Canada, where it drains into the Richelieu and then the St Lawrence Rivers. The Hudson River flows south through the eastern part of the state without draining Lakes George or Champlain. Niagara Falls, on the Niagara River as it flows from Lake Erie to Lake Ontario is a popular attraction; the best view is from the Canadian side. Few people know that New York's Adirondack State Park is larger than any National Park in the US. While best known for New York City's urban atmosphere, especially Manhattan's skyscrapers, by contrast the rest of the state is dominated by farms, forests, rivers, mountains, and lakes. The megalopolis, however, is not the only aspect of New York State. Several other groups of megalopolis-type super-cities exist in the world, but that centered around New York City was the first described and still is the best example. First described by Jean Gottmann in 1961 as a new phenomenon in the history of world urbanization, the megalopolis is characterized by a coalescence of previous already-large cities of the Eastern Seaboard, a heavy specialization on tertiary activity related to government, trade, law, education, finance, publishing and control of economic activity, plus a growth pattern not so much of more population and more area as more intensive use of already existing urbanized area and ever more sophisticated links from one specialty to another. The southern tip of New York State – New York City, its suburbs, and the southern portion of the Hudson Valley – can be considered to form the central core of a "megalopolis", a super-city stretching from the northern suburbs of Boston to the southern suburbs of Washington and therefore occasionally called BosWash. New York is also the site of the only extra-territorial enclave within the boundaries of the USA, the United Nations compound on Manhattan's East River. In addition, Rhode Island shares a water border with New York. New York State's borders touch (clockwise from the northwest) two Great Lakes (Erie and Ontario, which are connected by the Niagara River), the provinces of Ontario and Quebec in Canada, three New England states (Vermont, Massachusetts, and Connecticut), the Atlantic Ocean, and two Mid-Atlantic states (New Jersey and Pennsylvania). The court system in New York is notable for its "backwards" naming: the state's trial court is called the New York Supreme Court, while the highest court in the state is the New York Court of Appeals. New York State has its counties pay a higher percentage of welfare costs than any other state and New York State is the only state which requires counties to pay a portion of Medicaid. For decades it has been the established practice for Albany to pass legislation for some meritorious project, but then mandate county and municipal government to actually pay for it. Other officially incorporated governmental units are towns, cities, and villages. New York's subordinate political units are its 62 counties. New York's legislature also has more committees than any other legislature in the nation. Pennsylvania, whose staff is the second largest, only had 2,947, and California only 2,359. New York's legislature also has more paid staff, 3,428 than any other legislature in the nation. Of those bills, only 4 percent, 693, actually became law, the lowest passing percentage in the country. In 2002, 16,892 bills were introduced in the New York legislature, more than twice as many as in the Illinois General Assembly, whose members are the second most prolific. From 1984 until 2005, no budget had been passed on time, and for many years the legislature was unable to pass legislation for which there was supposed to be a consensus, such as reforming the so-called Rockefeller drug laws. The Assembly has long been controlled by the Democrats, the Senate has long been controlled by the Republicans. New York's legislature is notoriously dysfunctional. The legislative branch is called the Legislature and consists of a Senate and an Assembly. Unlike most States, the New York electoral law permits electoral fusion, and New York ballots tend to have, in consequence, a larger number of parties on them, some being permanent minor parties that seek to influence the major parties and others being ephemeral parties formed to give major-party candidates an additional line on the ballot. As in all fifty states, the head of the executive branch of government is a Governor. New York was one of the thirteen colonies that revolted against British rule in the American Revolution. See: History of New York. It is sometimes called New York State when there is need to distinguish it from New York City. postal abbreviation is NY. New York is a state in the northeastern United States whose U.S. For a complete list, see Colleges and Universities in the State of New York. New York's public land grant (agriculture) and forestry colleges are at private schools: Cornell and Syracuse Universities, respectively. 3.1% mixed race. 0.4% American Indian. 5.5% Asian. 15.1% Hispanic. 15.9% Black. 62.0% White, not of Hispanic origin. See: Politics of New York. See: List of political parties in New York. See: List of census-designated places in New York. See: List of villages in New York. See: List of towns in New York. See: List of cities in New York. See: List of New York counties. See: Political subdivisions of New York State. See: List of New York Governors. |