Alicia Keys

In 1994, manager Jeff Robinson met 13-year old Keys, who participated in his brother’s youth organization called Teens in Motion. Robinson’s brother had been giving Keys vocal lessons in Harlem.His brother had talked to him about Keys and advised him to go see her, but Robinson shrugged it off as he had “heard that story 1,000 times”. At the time, Keys was part of a three-member band that had formed in the Bronx and was performing in Harlem.Robinson eventually agreed to his brother’s request, and went to see Keys perform with her group at the Police Athletic League center in Harlem. He was soon taken by Keys, her soulful singing, playing contemporary and classical music and performing her own songs.Robinson was excited by audiences’ reactions to her. Impressed by her talents, charisma, image, and maturity, Robinson considered her to be the “total package”, and took her under his wing.By this time, Keys had already written two of the songs that she would later include on her debut album, “Butterflyz” and “The Life”.

More