Alicia Keys (born Alicia Augello Cook) made her first TV appearance at the age of 4, but that was acting rather than singing. Her mother started sending her to music and dance classes from a very early age, and she was an outstanding student at the Professional Performing Arts School, completing her course by the age of 16.
So it was clear very early that she would be a professional musician. A major factor in starting her career was meeting Jeff Robinson while she was stil at school (aged 13). Robinson's brother taught music to students out of school hours, and the young Alicia joined his class. Jeff Robinson was immediately impressed by his brother's student and eventually became her manager.
He introduced her to Peter Edge, who worked for Arista Records. The two of them helped her to develop her material and she was soon signed with Columbia Records. She was so successful that she soon left full-time education to get on with her musical career.