Alicia Keys was born on 25th January 1981, in New York, New York. Blending pop, gospel, R&B and soul, Keys burst onto the music scene in 2001 with her debut album Songs in A Minor.She was raised by her mother, Nikki Augello, a part-time actress and paralegal.
While she was accepted to Columbia University on a full scholarship, after a four-week stint at the school, Keys departed to devote herself fully to her music.In 1999, Clive Davis, the head of Arista Records, left the company to start J Records.
At the 2002 Grammy Awards, Keys took home awards for Song of the Year, Best R&B Song, Best R&B Album, Best Female R&B Vocal Performance, and Best New Artist. Keys fronted for fellow R&B sensation Maxwell in 2001. Her album "Diary" won her four Grammys in 2005.
In July 2010, Keys married Swizz Beatz (real name: Kasseem Dean) and the couple welcomed their first child together in October 2010, a baby boy named Egypt Daoud Dean.
But she left the FIDM and got a job with Bolthouse Productions as an event planner.She was soon seen on the screen of Laguna Beach, much owing to her friendship with Lauren Conrad.
From there, she got a role in the show The Hills in 2006. There she developed her relationship with Spencer Pratt and got some publicity for her decreasing closeness with Lauren Conrad.
Heidi also started a career in music and released her debut single "Higher" on iTunes and MySpace in February 2008. In March 2008, she released her second track "No More".
