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| Photos of the cast of "Hells Kitchen" (2024) |
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| "A Keys" and Usher at 2024 Apple Music Halftime show for KC Chiefs & 49ers this year (February 2024) |
I have had the amazing pleasure of seeing many of my favorite celebrities in person. This is one person who is very special to me when it comes to your heroes, aspirations. I started following Alicia Keys her career when I was about 14 years old when she first came out with “Fallin'” her debut single from her debut album, “Songs in A Minor” in June 2001. Fast forward I had a chance to see this woman perform about 5 times and see her in person. The most gracious, down to earth, cool, sweet, and personable. Her energy is soothing, calming like a warm cup of soup or tea. She calms you down instantly when you meet her. I on the other hand was a nervous wreck when I saw her in person. I was too excited because I just wanted an autograph of course but I had a chance to take a photo of her one I will cherish, then I saw her a few years later at an event at the Brooklyn Museum with her now husband, “Swizz Beats” performing for an event. One of my favorite recording artists I have had the pleasure of seeing her perform, meeting her in person a few times will be adding another notch on her belt. She’s not only writing/producing a Broadway play this time but the play is loosely based on her life. I have been a fan since my high school days when she first debuted on the musical scene summer of 2001.
Of course I had to include some of my favorite songs that still mean so much today....20 years later...
I wore the Alicia Keys braids when I was 14 and 15 years old, yes I did, I sang her song “If I ain’t got you” at my 2004 talent show in high school at Cathedral. I have seen her perform about 3 or 4 times at Radio City Music Hall, Madison Square Garden, I have seen her with her husband at the Brooklyn Museum and Stage 48 for an event in Hell’s Kitchen (nice Segway ha-ha) so now I can discuss her newest creation and project based on her life growing up. Alicia Keys is a multiple Grammy award winning singer, songwriter, pianist, television producer, actress, author, and now will add her second Broadway play to her producing credentials and theater background. Her first initial play that she was a producer on was “Stick Fly” in 2011. I remember vividly because I was a young intern working for Black Enterprise Magazine in the television broadcast department.
So when you get to see what one of your heroes upclose face to face. You’re of course crazy nervous, can’t believe this is happening in real life, and lastly don’t want the moment to end. This is one moment I will never forget it was a week before my birthday I remember because we had to be at a downtown Soho production editing house house to set up the entire set and also watch the interview of one of my correspondents too. I was working two days a week during this time and was working in the television broadcast department with my other 9 team members.
We had a small office on fifth avenue and 19th street before they relocated to an office on Madison Avenue. I remember just feeling like it doesn’t getting any better than this I wanted a photo of her and I
so bad. This was actually the 3rd time I had seen her in person. So yes I can honestly say meeting one of my heroes in person several times. It humbles you, it makes you appreciate your life, it also solidifies that if I can make it out of humble beginnings in a tough neighborhood in the eighties and nineties. We all can get out of any situation and surpass through too.
I think of her song, “The Gospel” I had a chance to see her perform the song live at an event at Stage 48 in midtown New York this was summer 2015 and I am a big advocate for song lyrics. Song lyrics tell a story, they set the mood in the listeners mind, you envision what the artist is trying to convey and tell too. Her lyrics “We are all God’s children growing up in the ghetto…Mama cooked a stew…Daddy did the yellin’”. Keys is phenomenal at a scene setter she can set a scene in a song and you’re right there with her in that moment of her life. I will not be surprised when I attend her first autobiographical Broadway play.
This play is very much an embodiment of Alicia Keys’s early, teen/adolescent years. This is before the record deal, before the fame, before the Grammys, before the All State commercials (Yes I recognize her voice), The Levi’s jeans campaign. Alicia was just a little girl with big dreams in a big diverse city that had some clever tricks up its sleeve. The most beautiful thing about this moment is we all get to witness a full circle moment for this star. She literally grew up down the street from all of the Broadway theaters adjacent to Hell’s Kitchen.
She can walk back to her roots and then also go up the street and see where she’s heading. That’s a powerful moment of your life to witness because you realize “I made it, I actually did it my dream is in front of me”.
She’s incredibly down to earth, she can have a good time, and isn’t afraid to let loose show her fun, free spirit, and soulful side. I would say if I had to compare her to a food her spirit is like a hot cup of soup and slice of apple pie. Alicia’s spirit, energy is comforting, warming, and sustains you. It feeds your soul and spirit. Her lyrics can hit you in different ways, make you think, and feel what she wants to convey to her listeners. I have been a fan since I was 14 so for me I have had a chance to see the true transition from young recording artist to savvy business woman and multi-hyphenated artist. I think when you grow with a person you’re even more proud of them because you’ve seen their transition from one place in their life to the next. You see where they are going to in the future.
So how did a young girl who was raised by a single mother and a father who was present when he chooses to be available.
How did this little girl end up becoming one of the biggest R&B/Soul recording artists who has appeared in television, films, plays, commercials, and more. I often heard her say her mother is her rock. She was the one who really made sure that Alicia was going to use her gifts and invested in her dreams. She enrolled Alicia into piano lessons as a little girl, she appeared and auditioned for television shows growing up. Alicia did appear on “The Cosby Show”, she practiced studying all of the great classical musicians and of course has a wide range of music under her belt. You see the influence of hip-hop, rap, classical weaved and woven into all of her music. When you hear “Songs in A Minor” (2001), “Diary of Alicia Keys”(2003), “Superwoman” (2007), “Element of Freedom”(2009), “Girl on Fire” (2012), “Here” (2016), and even her holiday album, "Alicia" (2019), “Santa Baby” (November 2022). You know that where her musical influence is coming from jazz, soul, funk, R&B, classical music, a variety of artists who have given her that fire, that energy, and passion in her music.
I hear influences of many classic artists in her music. Alicia’s music will be infused into her Broadway play telling the story of young Ali who is growing up in Manhattan Plaza in New York City. All of Alicia’s music will be used in all scenes including new songs she has composed.
The actress playing “Ali” will be…Maleah Joi Moon will be featured as Alicia or “Ali” in the nation wide debut of Hells Kitchen. Small productions of the show opened in November of 2023 and it will officially open in March this spring 2024. Cast will also include Chris Lee as “Knuck”, Kecia Lewis as Miss Lisa Jane, Davis as Brandon Victor Dixon, and Shoshana Bean as “Jersey”. Previews will begin March 28,
Now in 2024
Where Alicia is now?….A Broadway producer, singer, songwriter, actress, beauty icon, 15-time Grammy winner, just made her debut at the 2024 NFL Superbowl performing along with Usher singing their hit song, “My Boo”.
I notice now with these superstars expanding as artists they have now hit a period of reinvention with their branding, and business savviness. Alicia has crossover appeal which has brought her to not take her music to the next level with Netflix’s “Bridgerton” their past seasons her teaming up with Shonda Rhimes and her production crew to present the vision of Queen Charlotte and the television series in 2023.
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| I have to buy this book again loved this one her story you can easily see that her story was going to be one for the mainstage. |
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| Check out Soulcare by Alicia Keys |
Also, the new pop divas have all now are diving into the beauty industries. Alicia has a new beauty product “SoulCare” has been featured all over social media for the past few months. She even included her tips on her website the makeup that she wore during the superbowl. Alicia has always been an advocate for presenting and showing a more natural look. She may wear some light make up while performing but she keeps her daily makeup look more simple, clean, and modern and interviews with the public. You may see her appear more glamorous for tours and concerts or if she’s on film. She’s always promoted women feeling natural, comfortable in their born skin, and also authenticity. She also always presents herself as a woman with a warm, loving, embracing presence. Wanting people to feel positivity, love, calmness, and feeling powerful and at ease in their souls. I believe with this new branding and venture you see Keys shows us yes women can have it all. Millennial women are showing this current generation that we can have it all and then some today. It takes time, practice, knowing your vision, and yourself. You must follow your dream and make it a reality and live in it.
For more information on Alicia Keys please visit
www.hellskitchen.com, www.soulcare.com, and www.aliciakeys.com
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| Didn't want to forget to include the love of her lives, multiplatinum producer/musician, Harvard Business graduate, Swizz Beats and her two sons, Egypt, 13 and Genesis, 10 |
