Alicia Gets Her Own Keys, Signs Deal With Yahama

Grammy Award-winning R&B singer Alicia Keys is getting her own brand of keys courtesy of Yamaha !

According to a release issued Tuesday, Alicia Keys and Yamaha, the world's largest instrument manufacturer, will work together to distribute piano-inspired sounds an future products over a several year period.

"I believe it is really important to have access to a great sounding piano, and I hope this new virtual piano will inspire others and help them to hone their craft in a way like never before, regardless of their economic situation."

Keys worked with Grammy Award-winning engineer Ann Mincielli and renowned plug-in designer Thomas Hansen Scarbee to reproduce the exact sound of Alicia's prized Yamaha C3 Grand Piano.

"I wanted to create a sound that is just magnificent and that would inspire me to play," said Keys. "It was an idea that was born during the creation of my last album As I Am, which was recorded at my own studio, The Oven Studios, in New York City. While we were there recording this album we were able to create a really warm and beautiful sound using my Yamaha C3 Neo, and we decided that we wanted to capture that sound and make it something that I can take with me everywhere."

Yahama has worked with Alicia Keys before. In recent years the instrument manufacturer has customized two purple Yamaha pianos for Keys' "Karma" and "No One" music videos.

"Today, we're proud to announce this new partnership with her, and we will be dilligently working together to make this project a success and fulfill Alicia's vision of inspiring future musicians," says Chris Gero, Vice President of Yamaha Corporate Artist Affairs, Inc.

Keys and Yamaha hope to have her sounds available at a very affordable price within the next three months so that young musicians from all backgrounds will be able to play her signature sound.

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