Andrea Bocelli, OMRI, OMDSM (born 22 September 1958) is an Italian tenor, multi-instrumentalist and classical crossover artist. Born with poor eyesight, he became blind at the age of twelve following a soccer accident.
Easton Press Andrea Bocelli books
The Music of Silence - signed first edition - (co-authored by Stanislao G. Pugliese) 2001
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Singer Andrea Bocelli
Bocelli was born in Lajatico, Tuscany, Italy, about 40 km south of Pisa, in 1958, to parents Alessandro and Edi Bocelli, and grew up on the family farm. Bocelli's parents sold farm machinery and made wine in the tiny village of La Sterza, a frazione of Lajatico.
It was evident at birth that he had problems with his sight, and after visits to many doctors Bocelli was diagnosed with congenital glaucoma. In 1970, at the age of 12, he completely lost his sight after an accident during a football game. As a young boy, Bocelli showed a great passion for music. His mother, Edi, has said that music was the only thing that would comfort him. At the age of six he started piano lessons, and later also learned to play the flute, saxophone, trumpet, trombone, harp, guitar and drums.
Bocelli would also spend time singing during his childhood. At the age of 14 he won his first song competition, the Margherita d'Oro in Viareggio with O sole mio. After he finished secondary school in 1980, he studied law at the University of Pisa. To earn money Bocelli performed evenings in piano bars. He completed law school and spent one year as a court-appointed lawyer.
Source and additional information: Andrea Bocelli