Urban World

Keep A Child Alibe Black Ball

Grammy award-winning singer Alicia Keys never misses a beat musically! And she was typically glamorous in a dramatic black feathered gown and gold studded belt with Chaumet jewels at her annual charity event, the Keep A Child Alive Black Ball last week.

The New Yorker was joined on the red carpet by her producer husband Swizz Beatz, 32, who she married in Corsica last July.

The event was a rare night out for the couple, who have an eight-month-old baby boy Egypt together.

As well as performing on stage, Keys co-hosted the lavish ball with DJ Mark Ronson. The event was held to raise money and awareness for the Keep A Child Alive charity, which aims to provide support and treatment for children and families affected by HIV and AIDs in Africa and India.

But there was disappointment for the attendees, many of whom had paid £1,500 per ticket as illness forced headlining act George Michael to pull out of his performance tonight.

George was forced to pull out of of the event after he was struck down with a tooth infection.

He wrote on Twitter: 'Hi boyz n girls....bad news im afraid... This tooth ain't getting better in time for tonight, not enough to sing anyway..... :(.

However Keys couldn't resist joking about George Michael's no-show at her charity ball.

Stating: "I'm very disappointed. George Michael bailed on us. I think he said he had trouble parking or something.”

A fabulous evening, the newlywed told the Osworld’s Urban World that her new role as a mother had made her even more passionate about the charity she founded eight years ago.

She said: “Now becoming a mother makes me understand more about activism, and being a musician enables me to have a voice to speak to people, and I think that they all feed into each other.

“Like with anybody, my mother was a single mother and she balanced it and was able to raise me too.  You know I think there's always a way when you have the will.

She added: “It's such an important thing for me to do this work, and for us to have a voice for the voiceless, so many people out there are having to head their households, and they're a child.

“Imagine having to raise your brothers and sisters and having to worry about putting food on the table.”

She also paid tribute to her fans in the UK for supporting the work she does.

“The people here get involved, they feel it passionately and they are about it. Everybody who's here tonight are incredible to me, and I'm really so proud of them for giving their time like this.”

Keys' ball came a night after she performed to a sell-out crowd at the Royal Albert Hall.

Meanwhile, Keys is preparing to release a deluxe and collectors' edition of her debut album Songs In A Minor to celebrate the 10th anniversary on June 27.

By JANELLE OSWALD