Seemingly Unstoppable Career

Today in Music History: January 26

Like so many recording artists before her, today's feature started out young and is moving up the ladder fast with a seemingly unstoppable career. What will be next? We'll just see what we'll see...or hear, in this case...won't we?

Welcome into the Spotlight...

Alicia's talents do not rest on her voice alone!

Alicia Augello Cook, known professionally as . . . Alicia Keys: American singer, songwriter, record producer, and actress

Alicia Augello Cook was born in the area of New York City referred to as Hell's Kitchen. Better known by her stage name Alicia Keys, she began her career in entertainment with an appearance on 'The Cosby Show' at the tender age of four. Keys attracted attention of record company executives while she was still attending high school. She signed with Arista Records in 1998. But it wasn't until 2001 that Keys stormed onto the music scene with her debut album Songs in A Minor that went platinum five times over. Since then, the three octave singer has picked up nine Grammy awards, and even written soundtracks for the seminal 'The Wire' and Bond's 'Quantum of Solace.' With a seemingly unstoppable career, she won the Grammy for Best R&B Album in 2014.

"As I Am (Intro)" — Contains an interpolation of Nocturne No. 20 in C-sharp minor, op. posth by Frédéric Chopin

2008 Alicia Keys was at No.1 on the US album chart with her third album As I Am. The album sold over 742,000 copies in its first week the largest ever first week sales for any female R&B artist.

As reported on Wikipedia...

The album debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200 chart, selling 742,000 copies in its first week, highest ever for a female R&B artist and eventually earned a triple platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of America. It became an international commercial success and produced four singles that achieved chart success, including "No One", which became the song most listened to of 2007 in America. Despite some criticism towards Keys' songwriting, As I Am received positive reviews from most music critics and earned Keys several accolades, including three Grammy Awards. It has sold over five million copies worldwide.

• No.1 singles on this day...
  [Click on the year for the songs that hit number one on the charts in the US during that year.]
• 1963 The Rooftop Singers started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Walk Right In', a No.10 hit in the UK.

• 1965 'Downtown' by Petula Clark was at No. 1 on the US singles chart. A young Jimmy Page had played as a session guitarist on the track, giving him his first US No.1 hit, (and a No. 2 hit in the UK).

• 1974 Ringo Starr went to No.1 on the US singles chart with his version of the Johnny Burnette 1960 hit 'Your Sixteen', a No.3 hit in the UK.

 

Unable to locate the video...

really wonder what outrageous outfits she wore for the troops!

1991 Cher made a special video for the troops involved in Desert Storm during the gulf war. Cher's Video Canteen, featured Janet Jackson, Paul Simon, Van Halen and Bonnie Raitt.

And the music goes on beating to the rhythm of the changing times...