Hear why Alicia Keys is among top 100 artists

  • By Sharon Wootton Special to The Herald
  • Thursday, September 18, 2008 1:07pm
  • LifeGo-See-Do

About 500 U.S. leaders recently attended a two-day summit to celebrate and discuss more opportunities for volunteer service. Multi-Grammy-winning R&B singer-songwriter Alicia Keys was one of the speakers, one of her many talents, including acting.

The next day she was inducted into the All Time Hot 100 Artists by Billboard Hot 100. Not many artists of her generation made that list. Keys performs Saturday at WaMu in Seattle.

Keys, who has been mentioned by name in at least seven songs, describes her current album, “Yes I Am,” as “Janis Joplin meets Aretha Franklin.” Keys made her film debut in 2007 as an assassin in “Smokin’ Aces,” 22 years after her debut in the “Cosby Show.”

Journey, Heart, Cheap Trick: The bands have been touring together all summer. Journey, the rock band started by former members of Santana, are known for power ballads (“Don’t Stop Believing,” “Wheel in the Sky”). The Wilson sisters Ann and Nancy of Heart have been a rock staple since the 1970s and are on VH1’s “100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock” list.

Heart was recently in the news when the Republican National Convention played “Barracuda” after speeches by the nominees. A cease-and-desist order was sent to the campaign, although one of the co-writers (Roger Fisher) was pleased with the royalties because he planned to donate to the Democratic nominee.

Cheap Trick also was an energized pop-rock band in the 1970s and tours with the original line-up. The band has been credited with 29 movie soundtracks and made VH1’s “100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock” list. The Japanese press calls the band the American Beatles.

Maroon 5, Counting Crows: The co-headliners are on a green tour for Reverb, an environmental non-profit. Maroon 5 recently won its third Grammy, this time for the chart-topping single “Makes Me Wonder” from the chart-topping CD “It Won’t Be Soon Before Long.” Counting Crows’ most recent hit was the No. 1 “Accidentally in Love,” featured on the soundtrack to “Shrek 2” and nominated in 2005 for Grammy, Golden Globe and Academy Award honors.

JJ Grey &Mofro: The singer and songwriter loves surfing, farming, shrimping and fishing as well as creating one of USA Today’s “picks of the week” (“Orange Blossoms”). His previous album, “Country Ghetto,” was a success. Don’t be fooled: The CD title is as bright as it gets in Grey’s world, one that includes pain, despair and affairs offered through the multi-instrumentalist’s multi-layered Southern R&B, blues, funk and jukebox music. It hit the New Artist Chart at number four.

Delta Spirit: The blues-rock-psych pop band made its TV debut on “Late Night with Conan O’Brien,” playing the Top-25 “Trashcan,” and its “People C’mon” was used during commercial bumpers during CBS Sports’ coverage of the U.S. Open.

Out and about: Seattle Folklore Society fall series includes Dana Lyons, Autoharp Times Four, Bill Staines, Susan Werner, Hanneke Cassel, Tom Rawson and the Wanderers, Cosy Sheridan and T.R. Richie, and the Downtown Mountain Boys (206-528-8523, www.seattlefolklore.org) … Jazz vocalist Ed Reed is fresh off gaining mention in the “Rising Star Male Vocals” category of the Down Beat Critics’ Poll. He made his recording debut a year ago at age 78 (Tuesday and Wednesday, Jazz Alley) …

Sixteen-year-old Vince Mira already has appeared on “Good Morning America” and “The Ellen Degeneres Show” for his covering Johnny Cash songs in a deep baritone (today, Skagit Valley Casino, Bow) … “American Idol” winner Carrie Underwood now claims several Grammy awards and No. 1 singles and was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry in May 2008 (today, Puyallup Fair) …

Linda Ronstadt is one of the most successful vocalists across different genres, has earned Grammy and Emmy awards and Tony and Golden Globe nominations, and once was the highest paid woman in rock. She’ll perform with Los Camperos de Nati Cano (Tuesday, Paramount) … Saxman Maceo Parker, the main soloist on many of James Brown’s hits as well as a creative collaborator, is touring with this year’s “Roots &Grooves,” his latest recording (Thursday through Sept. 28, Jazz Alley).

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Life

Brandon Hailey of Cytrus, center, plays the saxophone during a headlining show at Madam Lou’s on Friday, Dec. 29, 2023 in Seattle, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Lynnwood-based funk octet Cytrus has the juice

Resilience and brotherhood take center stage with ‘friends-first’ band.

FILE - In this April 11, 2014 file photo, Neko Case performs at the Coachella Music and Arts Festival in Indio, Calif. Fire investigators are looking for the cause of a fire on Monday, Sept. 18, 2017, that heavily damaged Case’s 225-year-old Vermont home. There were no injuries, though a barn was destroyed. It took firefighters two hours to extinguish the blaze. (Photo by Scott Roth/Invision/AP, File)
Music, theater and more: What’s happening in Snohomish County

Singer-songwriter Neko Case, an indie music icon from Tacoma, performs Sunday in Edmonds.

Sarah Jean Muncey-Gordon puts on some BITCHSTIX lip oil at Bandbox Beauty Supply on Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2024, in Langley, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Bandbox Beauty was made for Whidbey Island locals, by an island local

Founder Sarah Muncey-Gordon said Langley is in a renaissance, and she’s proud to be a part of it.

Dominic Arizona Bonuccelli
Tangier’s market boasts piles of fruits, veggies, and olives, countless varieties of bread, and nonperishables, like clothing and electronics.
Rick Steves on the cultural kaleidoscope of Tangier in Morocco

Walking through the city, I think to myself, “How could anyone be in southern Spain — so close — and not hop over to experience this wonderland?”

chris elliott.
Vrbo promised to cover her rental bill in Hawaii, so why won’t it?

When Cheryl Mander’s Vrbo rental in Hawaii is uninhabitable, the rental platform agrees to cover her new accommodations. But then it backs out. What happened?

Byrds co-founder Roger McGuinn, seen here in 2013, will perform April 20 in Edmonds. (Associated Press)
Music, theater and more: What’s happening in Snohomish County

R0ck ‘n’ Roll Hall of Famer Roger McGuinn, frontman of The Byrds, plans a gig in Edmonds in April.

Mother giving in to the manipulation her daughter fake crying for candy
Can children be bribed into good behavior?

Only in the short term. What we want to do is promote good habits over the course of the child’s life.

Speech Bubble Puzzle and Discussion
When conflict flares, keep calm and stand your ground

Most adults don’t like dissension. They avoid it, try to get around it, under it, or over it.

The colorful Nyhavn neighborhood is the place to moor on a sunny day in Copenhagen. (Cameron Hewitt)
Rick Steves: Embrace hygge and save cash in Copenhagen

Where else would Hans Christian Andersen, a mermaid statue and lovingly decorated open-face sandwiches be the icons of a major capital?

Last Call is a festured artist at the 2024 DeMiero Jazz Festival: in Edmonds. (Photo provided by DeMiero Jazz Festival)
Music, theater and more: What’s happening in Snohomish County

Jazz ensemble Last Call is one of the featured artists at the DeMiero Jazz Festival on March 7-9 in Edmonds.

Kim Helleren
Local children’s author to read at Edmonds Bookshop

Kim Helleren will read from one of her books for kids at the next monthly Story Time at Edmonds Bookshop on March 29.

Chris Elliott
Lyft surprises traveler with a $150 cleaning charge

Jared Hakimi finds a $150 charge on his credit card after a Lyft ride. Is that allowed? And will the charge stick?

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.