Alicia Keys, photographed in New York City by British photographer Platon in July 2001.

Platon was commissioned to shoot several artists from new label J Records including Angie Stone, Luther Vandross, and Alicia Keys.

He expressed in a magazine in 2001 that he was “expecting a nightmare.” “Normally, artists are very suspicious of each other. There’s a lot of competition and egos. I was expecting big entourages of people, a lot of attitude.”

But by the time Alicia arrived, all his fears had faded away: “She was as charming as she is beautiful,” he says of the young star. “She came in, drank a glass of water, and sat down. It was wonderful.” Further commenting that Alicia arrived to the shoot without stylists, makeup artists or wardrobe people, which surprised the photographer. 

Born in London and raised in the Greek Isles, Platon worked for British Vogue for several years until he was invited to NYC to work for the late John Kennedy Jr. and his political magazine, 'George.’ Shooting portraits for a range of international publications including Rolling Stone, the New York Times Magazine, Vanity Fair, Esquire, GQ and the Sunday Times Magazine, Platon developed a special relationship with Time magazine, producing over 20 covers for them.