One of the most accomplished young performers in the pop world, singer/songwriter/pianist Alicia Keys is only 27 years old, yet has already collected nine Grammys, sold more than 40 million records and had her name mentioned in a Bob Dylan song. ("I was thinkin' 'bout Alicia Keys," he sings on "Thunder on the Mountain," off his '06 album, Modern Times.) Keys' universal appeal comes from her uncanny ability to pen timeless lyrics, sing spot-on with rich expressiveness and meld classic soul with contemporary R&B in a way that enthusiasts of both can appreciate. She is touring in support of her superb third album, As I Am. A neo-soul tour-de-force, the disc, which includes the hit singles "No One" and "Like You'll Never See Me Again," topped the Billboard 200 pop chart last year.
Alicia Keys w/Ne-Yo/Jordin Sparks, 8 p.m. Sat., May 24, St. Pete Times Forum, Tampa, $39.50-$100.
This article appears in May 21-27, 2008.