Alicia Keys, photographed as she arrives onstage at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines for the 150th anniversary of the Iowa State Fair on August 17, 2002.

The second leg of Alicia’s “Songs in A Minor Tour” kicked off in July and ran through a half-dozen state fairs, among them New York, Iowa and Minnesota. 

Other acts on the State Fair's bill included Kenny Chesney, Journey, Toby Keith, REO Speedwagon and Styx, Sara Evans, Trick Pony, and Brooks & Dunn.

Alicia’s appearance was listed on her official website, and on the concert site, pollstar.

 

Alicia Keys, photographed as she performs at the Palace Theatre in Columbus, Ohio by James DeCamp on Monday, February 4, 2002.

As she sits at her Kurzweil PC88, Alicia performed at the theatre for her “Songs in A Minor Tour,” that had kicked off in Connecticut in late January.

 

Alicia Keys, photographed as she performs at the Palace Theatre in Columbus, Ohio by James DeCamp on Monday, February 4, 2002.

As she sits at her Kurzweil PC88, Alicia performed at the theatre for her “Songs in A Minor Tour,” that had kicked off in Connecticut in late January.

 

Alicia Keys, Common and Rihanna, photographed as they attend an after party for Prince in concert at the O2 Arena in London on August 24, 2007.

Prince was in the country to promote his newly released album "Planet Earth," performing on his “21 Nights in London” ‘tour’ at the newly opened O2 Arena in Greenwich, London. Filling the same 23,000 capacity venue 21 dates in a row. Tickets for all 21 nights were sold-out. Alicia would perform at the O2 Arena the following year to promote her album “As I Am” released the prior November.

Scheduled for release that day was “The Nanny Diaries” starring Alicia in her second film role alongside Scarlett Johansson. But for hers and Common’s first feature film role was Joe Carnahan’s 2006 action/crime “Smokin’ Aces.” Common spoke to Entertainment Weekly about working with the singer: ”It was nice to be able to share that experience with the great Alicia Keys,” he says. “I knew her from music and so I didn’t feel totally alone on this. She was new to this as well, [so] she knew what I was going through.”

In the same interview, Alicia added: ”It was nice to not be the only new kid on the block, and it’s nice to hear that Common felt that way too,” she says. “We know each other from music, so it felt like a piece of home with me on the set.”

That year Rihanna had released her third studio album “Good Girl Gone Bad,” but in 2013 she was mentioned in an interview with the London Evening Standard by Alicia: “I’m proud of Rihanna,” she said. “Because it’s not easy to stand up in this crazy world and make it and keep going and try new things. And find your way through it.” Adding: “I don’t know her personally like that. But I do know there’s a lot of good people at Roc Nation and I do think that as we all get older, you start to be able to say, ‘No, I’m not gonna take that from you any more.’”

 

Alicia Keys, photographed helping to motivate a Chicago inner-city 8th-grade class at the Betty Shabazz International Charter School to dream big and set goals on Thursday, March 31, 2005.

While on tour to promote her sophomore album, The Diary of Alicia Keys, Alicia was in Chicago to perform two sold-out shows at the Chicago Theatre. It was here she visited Chicago's Betty Shabazz International Charter School on South Side, teaming up with nonprofit organization Frum Tha Ground Up to assist teens in learning the importance of self-worth and direction. 

Alicia told the 300 students at the Afrocentric-themed school named after the late wife of Malcolm X: "I would like to create a school like this in New York City. I've never seen anything like it," reports the Chicago Sun-Times. "It's going to take time and a lot of learning on my part, but I'm going to do it." The R&B superstar and the in-school motivational program, started by Alicia’s road manager DJ Walton, were scheduled to visit schools in Atlanta, Washington, D.C., and New York City during her tour.

Pupils performed a traditional song for Alicia, singing in Swahili and wearing traditional Kente clothing. She told them: "I am honoured to be here today with you celebrating me as I am celebrating you. To see a place that's really connected to something, holds onto traditions, I've never seen that anywhere."

 

Alicia Keys, photographed helping to motivate a Chicago inner-city 8th-grade class at the Betty Shabazz International Charter School to dream big and set goals on Thursday, March 31, 2005.

While on tour to promote her sophomore album, The Diary of Alicia Keys, Alicia was in Chicago to perform two sold-out shows at the Chicago Theatre. It was here she visited Chicago's Betty Shabazz International Charter School on South Side, teaming up with nonprofit organization Frum Tha Ground Up to assist teens in learning the importance of self-worth and direction. 

Alicia told the 300 students at the Afrocentric-themed school named after the late wife of Malcolm X: "I would like to create a school like this in New York City. I've never seen anything like it," reports the Chicago Sun-Times. "It's going to take time and a lot of learning on my part, but I'm going to do it." The R&B superstar and the in-school motivational program, started by Alicia’s road manager DJ Walton, were scheduled to visit schools in Atlanta, Washington, D.C., and New York City during her tour.

On June 4, 2002, roughly 100,000 students, teachers, parents and rap fans crammed eight blocks outside New York’s City Hall in Lower Manhattan in protest of Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s proposal of drastic new school budget cuts. The city had also failed to approve a pay raise for the severely underpaid teachers, who had been working 18 months without a contract.

The demonstration, organized by rap mogul Russell Simmons of Def Jam Records as part of his HipHop Action Network and in conjunction with United Federation of Teachers and the Alliance for Quality Education, drew a who's who of celebrities: Alicia Keys, LL Cool J, Jay-Z, Foxy Brown, Rza from Wu Tang Clan, Erykah Badu, Common, Rah Digga and P. Diddy, among others. 

Taking place a day before Bloomberg was scheduled to present his proposed $1 billion cut in the city’s education budget to City Council, artists voiced their disapproval in a generally peaceful rally, that being until rapper Wyclef Jean was arrested in his own protest, which prompted chaos to break out in one block. With kids rushing the block, some of them throwing boxes and bottles at the police van carrying the rapper, some of them sobbing.

All week, activists had been protesting outside City Hall. But this rally was the first to join artists with labor activists and students.

Earlier, Jay-Z took to the airwaves on New York radio stations, urging students to join the protest after school let out. Organizers said police were not prepared for the large turnout.

Many in the crowd were teenagers who said they wanted to demonstrate against the budget cuts in their schools -- and to catch a glimpse of their favorite artists. Artists whom said they were also products of the city's public school system, an adamant Alicia Keys spoke onstage: “We are not just gonna take what we’re given,” she said. “We’re not gonna take $1.2 billion in cuts. We’re worth more than that. I’m a New York City resident, born and raised here. When I was in school we were fighting the same fights against budget cuts. Once again they constantly want to take from the system of education, from schools, from the people that are going to be the future. I’m out here to show my support that we’re not going to accept this.”

Continuing: “It’s important that we’re here for each other and make support for public education our priority.” Also demonstrating that her younger brother Cole’s school had already cut some programs due to budget constraints.

After the rally, Mayor Bloomberg said that he would be postponing the proposal.

 

Alicia Keys, photographed as she performs during the seventh annual Air Jamaica Jazz & Blues Festival at Jamaica’s Cinnamon Hill Golf Course in Rose Hall, Montego Bay on Saturday, January 24, 2004.

Headliner Alicia Keys’ newest album, “The Diary of Alicia Keys,” topped two of Billboard’s album charts, with U.S. sales exceeding 618,000 units in the first week of release. At the time she held the current top Billboard singles spot with “You Don’t Know My Name.”

The festival, scheduled for January 22 through 25, also included India.Arie, Nancy Wilson, Beres Hammond, Cassandra Wilson, Monty Alexander, Kenny Rogers, and Omar Cummingham. Tickets were priced at $45 per day on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, and $20 for the Sunday program.

A musical tribute was honored to the late Johnny Cash, who owned a home and property in Jamaica near the festival grounds. 

 

“New Singer Alicia Keys Sitting Pretty With Smash Debut Album ‘Songs In A Minor’”

Alicia Keys, photographed by Tony Duran on the cover of JET magazine for their August 13 issue in 2001.

For her cover story, Margena A. Christian speaks to Alicia about her new debut studio album and a bit about the 20-year-old’s personal life.

Amongst the success of the album, Alicia comments on the rising popularity of “Fallin’”, and the fact that the single was even being featured in TV soap commercials: “Isn’t it crazy? I think it’s crazy,” she says to JET about the song’s impact. “In fact it kind of sounds like a soap opera song. I was thinking, ‘Hey, wait a minute!’”

JET comments about her marriage between classical and soul music, she adds: “I am truly blessed that people are really into it. But I really didn’t know that I was doing it,” she admits. “It was kind of something that comes natural to me, studying classical for so long and having a love of soul and R&B music. It’s kind of something that fused together by itself. I think people are always ready for something different.”

“People who don’t know me ask me if I’m an MC,” she chuckles. “They always ask me, ‘Do you rhyme?’ I say, ‘Well, I could rhyme if I wanted to.’ They get a kick out of it. I think classical music has a notorious reputation for being a little stuffy, and I think this just kind of brings it down to earth.”

Alicia also mentions the possibility of returning to college after leaving as her career was kicking off: “I have always been working toward this. When it was finally looking like it was jumping off, I was like I see an opportunity to really do this…I think school is important and I want to definitely go back even if I have to so an Internet college course.”

Here she also reveals the inspiration for the albums second single, “A Woman’s Worth,” which came during a Thanksgiving family dinner: “I was watching TV when a L’Oreal commercial came on. At the end it said, ‘Because I’m worth it.’ I said, ‘Oh, my goodness! Damn, I’m worth it! That’s hot!’ Time passed and I played it on the piano and recorded it. I started thinking how important it is to feel like you’re worth it. If you know you’re worth it, you won’t let people treat you any which way. In a relationship you are worth the special things—not just monetarily, but sweet little things. As a woman, you’re worth it.”

 

Alicia Keys, Halle Berry and India.Arie, featured on the cover of Ebony magazine for their Annual Women’s Issue in March 2002.

“I can’t quite explain properly how thrilling this year has been,” Alicia says in an interview. “It has superseded any expectations I had, or didn’t have!”

 

The Chicago Tribune reports that Alicia performed for a crowd of 700 packed into the infamous E2 nightclub on South Michigan Avenue in Chicago, Illinois on Thursday, August 9, 2001.

The set reportedly only lasted 20 minutes, which left some fans disappointed. Though, the 20-year-old greeted the crowd with a smile. Shouting from behind her keyboard: “You know what I got for Chicago?,” then pounding out the familiar melody of Mary J. Blige’s “Real Love.”

It seemed Alicia wasn’t accompanied by a band, only the company of her keyboard during most of the “Afterwork Set,” sponsored by local station WGCI (107.5 FM). But Alicia made up for the lack of instruments with her powerful voice. After warming up with Beethoven’s “Für Elise,” she sang her cover of Prince’s “How Come U Don’t Call Me.” Without trying to seem too disappointed, she told the crowd that being able to be in Chicago meant that she had to pass an opportunity to perform with Prince in his hometown of Minneapolis. Although, she “looked comfortable with the mass of mostly female crowd, standing up and pacing the stage in tight-fitting black pants, a black lace one-sleeved topand and gold scarf covering her braids and gold hoop earrings.”

Soon performing the second single "Girlfriend," from her debut album, which was currently sitting at No. 3 on the charts. But it was her No. 1 single that everyone was excited to hear, “Fallin’.” Fans sang along so loud that Alicia “had no need for backup singers.”

Then at 9:05 p.m., 20 minutes after her big entrance, she exited the stage. “At least one person who paid $25 to see the show, which also featured J Records labelmate, Jimmy Cozier and lasted 50 minutes, asked for her money back. The audience had trouble seeing Cozier because the spotlight didn’t come on until his final song.” Jimmy appeared on Alicia’s “Mr. Man” track from Songs in A Minor.

On Friday (August 10), Alicia and Jimmy performed for free in front of the NBC Tower in Chicago. Fans in the plaza clamored for pictures and autographs from the stars. Alicia would later perform in Chicago in September and December for 2001.

 

"Alicia in Wonderland"

Alicia Keys, appears on the cover of the Summer 2002 issue of Canadian magazine Inside Entertainment. 

Canadian author and music journalist Nicholas Jennings goes one-on-one with the Grammy winner over the phone from Montgomery, Alabama. Where Alicia talks about attending the Grammys for the first time earlier in February: “I’m not the type who gets really worked up about things,” she says. “But that day, I felt extremely calm. It surprised even me.”

As well as growing up on New York’s streets: “Being on the streets and living in New York when you’re younger, you sometimes do what you shouldn’t do,” she says. “Different circumstances could’ve led me to very negative places, but for whatever reason I decided that wasn’t what I wanted for myself. There’s so much pressure around you to succumb to what other people are doing. Those times led me to realize that I have to do what I feel is right and let my intuition lead me.”

Even mentioning a future album [‘Diary]: “I have all these new things that are going on in my head. Just peering through my heart as I travel and see different things, and the way the world has been this whole year. I’m not stressing the (next) album. I’m not even on it like that. I’m just sitting down and writing what comes to me.”

She tries to explain where her maturity and self-assurance comes from: “Maybe being an only child,” she ventures. “You’re around adults more often.” Raised by her mother, they formed a close bond. “She’s an actress,” explains Alicia, “but to support us she was a paralegal. And I used to go with her, both to her acting jobs and to her 9 to 5, falling asleep in theatres and underneath conference tables.”

And she’s flattered to be compared to idols like Aretha Franklin and Roberta Flack, who she comments as “historical and beautifully strong women,” but also recognizing the need for future accolades: “I know that I still have a lot to prove and a lot to do and say,” she says. “I intend to be here for a very long time. Maybe after 20 or 30 years, when people say ‘Man, she can be in a category with Roberta and Aretha,’ then I will say ‘Wow, I think I’ve worked hard enough and long enough to be here too.’”

 

Alicia Keys, photographed as she attends a press conference at the Shangri-La Hotel in Beijing, China to launch the forthcoming “Wall of Hope” concert on September 23, 2004.

Alicia was joined at the press table by musicians Nellie McKay, Cyndi Lauper, Doye Bramhall and Sylvia Tosun. 

The concert, the first ever pop music event to be staged on the Great Wall, took place on September 25 at the Wall’s Juyongguan North Gate in front of 10,000 invited guests, commemorating the 20th anniversary of the restoration of China’s Great Wall. It was also the first in a series of benefits planned for the Chinese cities of Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou, produced by Steinberg Lee and Lou Enterprises.  

Proceeds from the concerts went to the China Children and Teenagers' Fund, a charitable organization. MTV Asia broadcast the event.

Alicia was the first artist officially set to perform, she was later joined by Boyz II Men, Cyndi Lauper and Nellie McKay.

Alicia sat at her piano, wearing a leather jacket in the autumn air with a hat pulled low over her face. Guests were treated to an array of hits like “If I Ain’t Got You,” “Karma,” and Stevie Wonder’s “Higher Ground.”

 

Alicia Keys, photographed as she arrives at MTV Asia Aid at the IMPACT Arena in Bangkok, Thailand on February 3, 2005.

The fourth annual MTV Asia Awards was repositioned as an international benefit to support the relief following the December 26 earthquake and tsunami off the Indonesian island of Sumatra the prior year.

Also photographed is Alicia’s childhood friend and road manager Erika Rose.

With Alicia as host, more than 11,000 fans gathered at Bangkok’s IMPACT Arena to see major Asian and international acts perform to help raise money for organizations working to help the victims of the Dec. 26 disaster.

MTV offered the show free to broadcasters around the world in an attempt to raise as much money as possible from viewers’ donations.

Performances included Thailand’s own Tata Young, India’s Asha Bhosle, and America’s Linkin Park, Good Charlotte and Kelly Clarkson, plus others.

Including taped messages of support from United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan, 50 Cent, Ashanti, Black Eyed Peas, and more.

Proceeds went primarily to the United Nations children's charity UNICEF, and to other local charities. Organizers hoped to reach an audience of more than 1 billion people in the network’s biggest charity show yet. 

During the press conference held at the Metropolitan Hotel in central Bangkok on the afternoon of February 2, Alicia spoke words of optimism: "Different from previous performances, this time coming to Asia feels more meaningful than ever. Let's share and look forward to the future together."