His eyesight, which was already poor due to glaucoma, was completely blinded when he hit his head while playing football at the age of 12 and suffered a cerebral hemorrhage.
Born in Lajatico, Italy on September 22, 1958, Andrea Bocelli became interested in music at an early age. He was only 6 years old when he started learning the piano. He later learned the flute and saxophone and was often asked to sing at family gatherings and at school. Bocelli, who has had vision problems since his birth, lost his sight completely after a football accident at the age of 12 and became blind.
But Bocelli's career was just beginning. He first tasted success at a singing competition in 1970. He then continued to hone his talent by studying voice with Luciano Bettarini. His mother, Edi Bocelli, and father, Alessandro Bocelli, wanted a solid career for their son. Taking these desires into account, Bocelli studied Law at the University of Pisa and took up the profession of lawyer after graduating. The gifted singer did not abandon music. He started taking lessons from Franco Corelli, whom he was a big fan of, and played piano in local bars to pay for his expenses.
One of Bocelli's first lucky hits was the "Miserere" demo tape he recorded for Zucchero Fornaciari in 1992. This recording was heard by the famous tenor Luciano Pavarotti, for whom the song was written himself. Bocelli and Pavarotti sang "Miserere" together. The piece had a huge impact on Europe.
On the rise, Bocelli attended the Sanremo Festival in 1994 and won his first prize in the "New Arrivals" category with "Il Mare Calmo Della Sera", which introduced him to both Italy and the music world.
Bocelli, who included the song "Con te Partiro" in his album Romanza shortly after, had a big hit in Europe. The duet "Time to Say Goodbye" with the famous English singer of the time, Sarah Brightman, brought Bocelli the most prestigious award he has ever received, the "Best singer of the year" award.
While the awards he received throughout Europe followed the next awards, he started to appeal to certain audiences in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and South Africa with the famous tenor Romanza album. His performances to four American presidents, three Popes, and the British Royal Family referred to him as "Bocelli on the World's Highest Point".
He sang a duet to the song "The Prayer" with Celine Dion on the night of the 1999 Oscar Awards. The Canadian singer said of Bocelli: “If God could sing, he would sing just like Andrea Bocelli.”
Later he published a book called “The Music of Silence”. His book was published to great acclaim from critics and the reading public.
In 2007, he gave one of his most crowded concerts in Teatro del Silenzio, Lajatico with his album titled “Vivere – Best of”. This concert was very meaningful because Lajatico was the place where the artist was born and raised. In his own words, he explains: “My concerts are highly anticipated global events that attract over 15,000 people each year. However, at the Teatro del Silenzio; like a big party, not just for the audience, but for the artists and above all for myself. I was born in Lajatico, this is my home. It feels like I've invited artists and audiences to throw a big party in my garden. Everyone was there, from Steve Jobs to Sharon Stone, from Natalie Portman to royalty.”
And lastly, he gave a concert “Music for Hope” at the empty Duomo Cathedral in Milan recently. Due to the pandemic, the concert took place online. “I believe in the power of praying together, this is a prayer, not music.” The famous artist, who gave his message, succeeded in conquering the hearts of another generation with his art.
https://www.andreabocelli.com/diary