Lasting Legacy of Alicia Keys: A Look at the Influence on History

A closer look at the lasting mark left by Alicia Keys—a timeline of influence.

Alicia Keys, born Alicia Augello Cook, is a celebrated American singer-songwriter and classically trained pianist. She began writing songs at a young age and debuted with the critically acclaimed and commercially successful album, Songs in A Minor (2001), featuring the hit single "Fallin'". The album garnered her five Grammy Awards. Her success continued with her second album, The Diary of Alicia Keys (2003), which sold eight million copies and produced popular singles like "You Don't Know My Name" and "If I Ain't Got You", earning her four more Grammy Awards.

Sections (5)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Legacy & Impact

1960: Ray Charles Makes "Georgia on My Mind" Famous

In 1960, Ray Charles made the Hoagy Carmichael song "Georgia on My Mind" famous, which Alicia Keys covered at the 2005 Grammy Awards.

1994: Nirvana's MTV Unplugged

In 1994, Nirvana's MTV Unplugged in New York album debuted, being the highest for an MTV Unplugged album since.

2001: Keys Ushered in a Marriage between Classical and Soul Music

According to Jet, in 2001, Alicia Keys "ushered in a marriage between classical and soul music."

2001: Speaking Out About Record Label Issues

In 2001, Alicia Keys spoke about her past challenges with record labels, specifically mentioning the trials of confidence and faith she faced while trying to maintain her artistic vision.

2003: The Guardian on Alicia Keys' power

In 2003, The Guardian highlighted Alicia Keys's largely self-created work as "an indication of how much power she wields" and described her as "an uncompromising artist".

2004: Norah Jones' Album Success

In 2004, Norah Jones' album "Feels Like Home" had the largest sales week for a female solo artist until Alicia Keys's "As I Am" in 2007.

2005: The Independent on Keys' Musical Style

In 2005, The Independent described Alicia Keys's musical style as consisting of "crawling blues coupled with a hip-hop backbeat, and soul melodies enhanced with her raw vocals".

2005: Named One of Time's 100 Most Influential People

In 2005, Time magazine named Alicia Keys one of the 100 most influential people.

2005: Christopher John Farley on Keys' Musicianship

In 2005, journalist Christopher John Farley wrote: "Her musicianship raises her above her peers. She doesn't have to sample music's past like a DJ scratching his way through a record collection; she has the chops to examine it, take it apart and create something new and personal with what she has found."

2007: Pareles on Keys' Musical Compositions

In 2007, John Pareles considered that Alicia Keys did not "offer private details in her songs" and that her musical compositions make up for a lack of lyrical refinement.

April 2008: Alicia in Africa: Journey to the Motherland Documentary Release

In April 2008, Alicia Keys' work in Africa, specifically her efforts with Keep a Child Alive, was recorded and released in the documentary "Alicia in Africa: Journey to the Motherland".

2015: Billboard's R&B Artists List

In 2015, Alicia Keys was placed at number 27 on Billboard's "35 Greatest R&B Artists of All Time" list.

2016: BBC on Keys' Impact on R&B-Soul-Jazz

In 2016, BBC's Babita Sharma stated that Alicia Keys has had a significant impact "on the R&B-soul-jazz sound of the last two decades".

2016: NPR on Alicia Keys' Career

In 2016, NPR noted that Alicia Keys "stood apart from pop trends while forging a remarkable career" and "sustained her focus on artistry".

2016: NPR on Keys' Diversity

In 2016, NPR stated that Alicia Keys's overall work consists of notable "diversity to style and form".

2016: Salon on Keys's Sixth Album

In 2016, referencing Alicia Keys's sixth album, Here, Salon noted a "hypnotic tension" in her lyrical expression and complimented her "sense of rhythmic timing" and socio-political consciousness.

2017: Named One of Time's 100 Most Influential People Again

In 2017, Alicia Keys was again named one of Time magazine's 100 most influential people.

2017: Washington on Songs in A Minor's Impact

In 2017, Kerry Washington wrote that Alicia Keys's "Songs in A Minor infused the landscape of hip-hop with a classical sensibility and unfolded the complexity of being young, gifted, female and black for a new generation."

January 2023: Rolling Stone's Best Singers List

In January 2023, Rolling Stone ranked Alicia Keys at number 185 on their list of The 200 Best Singers of All Time.

2023: Rolling Stone's 200 Greatest Singers List

In 2023, Rolling Stone ranked Alicia Keys at number 185 on its list of the 200 Greatest Singers of All Time.