Andrea Bocelli

Andrea Bocelli is an Italian tenor. After performing evenings in piano bars and competing in local singing contests, Bocelli signed his first recording contract with Sugar Music. He rose to fame in 1994 after winning the newcomers' section of the 44th Sanremo Music Festival performing "Il mare calmo della sera".
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Some of the key events about Andrea Bocelli

  • 1970
    Lost remaining eyesight due to a soccer accident at age 12, becoming fully blind
  • 1982
    Recorded first demo tape and began performing in piano bars
  • 1992
    Recorded a demo tape of "Miserere" with Zucchero, which caught the attention of Luciano Pavarotti
  • 1992
    Faced rejection from record companies early in career due to blindness
  • 1994
    Released debut album "Il Mare Calmo della Sera", which went platinum within weeks
  • 1995
    Released sophomore album "Bocelli", which became one of the best-selling albums in Italian history
  • 1998
    Duet "The Prayer" with Celine Dion won Golden Globe for Best Original Song
  • 1998
    Experienced controversy over lip-syncing allegations during a performance in New Jersey
  • 1999
    Nominated for Best New Artist at the Grammy Awards, a first for a classical artist
  • 2002
    Faced criticism for perceived overexposure in the media
  • 2006
    Received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for his contribution to Live Theater
  • 2010
    Performed for Pope Benedict XVI at the Catholic Jubilee celebration in Rome
  • 2010
    Underwent emergency surgery for a brain hemorrhage
  • 2013
    Canceled several concert dates due to health issues
  • 2014
    Faced backlash for performing at a fundraiser for controversial former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi
  • 2015
    Released cinema-themed album "Cinema", which became his first UK No. 1 album
  • 2017
    Suffered injuries after falling from a horse, requiring hospitalization
  • 2018
    Released "Sì", his first album of new material in 14 years, which topped charts in UK and US
  • 2019
    Faced criticism for agreeing to perform at the inauguration of U.S. President Donald Trump
  • 2020
    Contracted COVID-19 and had to cancel performances during the pandemic

Disclaimer: This material is written based on information taken from open sources, including Wikipedia, news media, podcasts, and other public sources.

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