Tenor Andrea Bocelli was born on September 22, 1958, in Tuscany, Italy. He became interested in tenors through listening to 78-speed records as a child and developed a passion for opera. His parents encouraged him to start playing the piano, eventually moving on to the flute and saxophone. However, at age 12, he was hit directly in the skull by a soccer ball, causing a cerebral hemorrhage and total blindness. Despite this obstacle, Bocelli continued to study at the University of Pisa, earning a doctorate in law. He eventually became a lawyer, but his dream of becoming an opera singer never faded. While working in the legal profession, he began studying singing under Luciano Bettarini. Then, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity presented itself. When Zucchero, one of Italy's leading singers, hired him to sing a demo tape, he praised Bocelli's voice. His voice even impressed the world-famous tenor Luciano Pavarotti, who performed a duet with him, finally earning him the opportunity to make his professional debut.
After making his debut as a singer, Bocelli won the Newcomer category at the Sanremo Music Festival in 1994. In 1996, he released the album "Viaggio Italiano," featuring opera arias and Neapolitan canzones, and his voice gained popularity throughout Europe. Furthermore, his album "Romanza," released in 1997, sold 20 million copies worldwide, establishing Bocelli as one of the world's leading tenors.
After that, he continued to release CDs and perform numerous concerts. In 1998, he embarked on his first American tour. In 1999, he performed a duet with Celine Dion at the Grammy Awards and the Academy Awards. He was nominated for Best New Artist at the Grammy Awards, the first classical musician to achieve this feat in 36 years. Meanwhile, in 1994, he made his opera debut in a production of Macbeth in Pisa. In 1998, he played the role of Rodolfo in La Bohème, earning rave reviews from critics worldwide. He has also sung solo at numerous ceremonies, including the closing ceremony of the Turin Olympics, the closing ceremony of the UEFA Champions League, and the opening ceremony of the Shanghai World Expo.
