Alicia Keys is an American recording artist, musician and actress. She is the only child of Teresa Augello and Craig Cook. In 1985, Keys made an appearance on The Cosby Show at the age of four.
She was sent to music and dance classes by her mother. Alicia began playing the piano when she was seven and learned classical music. Keys enrolled in the Professional Performing Arts School at the age of 12, where she majored in choir. She graduated in three years.
In 1994 Keys met long-term manager Jeff Robinson. The following year Robinson introduced her to her future A&R at Arista Records, Peter Edge. At the same time as signing a recording contract with Columbia Records, she was accepted into Columbia University. After four weeks Alicia dropped out of college to pursue her musical career fulltime.
