Andrea Bocelli

Andrea Bocelli OMRI OMDSM - born in Lajatico, Italy on September 22, 1958) – is an acclaimed tenor and multi-instrumentalist. Growing up on a farm just south of Pisa, Italy, he was born with congenital glaucoma, going completely blind after a football accident when he was 12. He threw himself into music, mastering numerous instruments including piano, flute, saxophone, harp, guitar, trumpet, trombone, and drums. At the age of 14, he won his first singing competition performing “O Sole Mio” at the Margherita d'Oro, Viareggio. Bocelli studied law at the University of Pisa and, after qualifying, performed in bars where he found his sound. Italian rock star Zucchero used him to demo one of his songs, “Miserere,” which he wished to send to opera superstar Luciano Pavarotti as a rock-operatic duet. After the Zucchero-Pavarotti duet became a major hit, Zucchero took Bocelli on tour with him to perform it live. Andrew Bocelli subsequently became rock's favorite opera crossover artist, appearing in many prestigious opera shows while collaborating on recordings with everyone from Christina Aguilera to Mary J. Blige. He made his major operatic debut as Rodolfo in La Bohème in 1998 and shortly after, released Aria: The Opera Album for which he received an Echo Klassik award for Best Selling Classical Album. He performed for President Bill Clinton at the White House, which paved the way for many more high-profile appearances. More successful albums followed with Cieli di Toscana (2001), Sentimento (2002), Amore (2006), and Incanto (2008) before his Number 1 charting festive release My Christmas in 2009. Passione was released in 2013 featuring duets with Jennifer Lopez, Nelly Furtado, and late Edith Piaf. He followed that with Cinema (2015) and Si (2018). Two years later, Andrea Bocelli’s record-breaking performance at an empty Duomo di Milano was watched by 2.8 millions of people around the world - the largest audience for a classical live stream in media streaming history. That same year, he returned with Believe, an album that featured a duet with singer Alison Krauss on “Amazing Grace” and a previously unreleased track from legendary composer Ennio Morricone. For Andrea Bocelli’s 2022 holiday release, A Family Christmas, he was joined by his son Matteo and daughter Virginia. Andrea Bocelli was made Grand Officer of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic in Rome, Italy on March 4, 2006. Three years later, he was made Grand Officer of the Order of Merit of Duarte, Sánchez and Mella for his contributions to International art and culture.

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