From 1982 to the present, Bocelli has released fifteen solo studio albums, comprising of both pop and classical music, three greatest hits albums, and nine complete operas, which have sold over seventy-five million records worldwide. Known for his crossover performances, he has successfully brought classical music to the top of the international pop charts. His first compilation album, Romanza, is one of the best-selling albums, and Sacred Arias is the best-selling classical album ever released by a single artist in history.

Background

Andrea Bocelli was born on September 22, 1958, in the small town of Lajatico, Italy. Although he was born with sight, he was diagnosed with congenital glaucoma and ultimately lost his sight at the age of twelve. During a soccer game, he was hit in the eye and suffered a brain hemorrhage that eventually caused his complete blindness. Although he was born to farmers and winemakers, Bocelli had been interested in music from a young age.

At six years old, he began taking piano lessons and learned six other instruments, including the flute, saxophone, trumpet, trombone, guitar, and percussion. Encouraged by his nanny, Bocelli began singing, and by the age of seven, he could recognize the most famous voices and started to emulate them. At fourteen, Bocelli won his first singing competition by singing "O sole mio" at the Margherita d'Oro in Viareggio. He later studied law at the University of Pisa but performed in piano bars during the evenings to earn money. He finished law school and spent a year practicing as a court-appointed lawyer.

Marriage, Wife, Divorce

Bocelli met Enrica Cenzatti, who would become his first wife, while performing in piano bars during the early stages of his professional career. On June 27, 1992, they exchanged vows. Their first child, a son named Amos, was born on February 22, 1995, and their second son, Matteo, was born on October 8, 1997. In 2002, the couple decided to separate. Bocelli then met Veronica Berti, who would become his second wife and manager, for the first time in 2002. Andrea Bocelli and Veronica Berti Bocelli had a long courtship before tying the knot in 2014. They had been together for over 10 years before deciding to get married. They announced in September 2011 that they were expecting their first child together, a daughter, in the spring of 2012. Virginia was born on March 21, 2012, and is Bocelli's only child. The couple resides in the coastal town of Forte Dei Marmi on the Mediterranean. Bocelli and Berti tied the knot on March 21, 2014, at the Sanctuary of Montenero in Livorno, Italy, located on the coast.

Bocelli's father, Alessandro Bocelli, died on April 30, 2000, at 76. On May 1, Bocelli sang for Pope John Paul II in Rome and immediately returned home to attend his father's funeral. His mother encouraged him to honor his commitments, and he did so. Bocelli performed "Sogno" (Dream) as an encore from his 1999 album Sogno, filmed for PBS and broadcast as American Dream—Andrea Bocelli's Statue of Liberty Concert. He dedicated the song to his father.

Bocelli has enjoyed horseback riding for much of his life, despite being blind. On August 11, 2003, a section of the beach in Jesolo, on the Italian Adriatic coast, was dedicated to him. Bocelli purchased a second home in North Miami Beach in October 2019.

Bocelli is a self-declared supporter of the Italian soccer club Inter Milan, which he has visited several times. In an interview with a group of Inter supporters in Pisa, he stated, "The beginning of my love for Inter dates back to my college years when the club dominated the Italian and international soccer scene. My friends and I were at a bar celebrating when Inter won the Champions League in 2010. We were listening to the game on the radio, and everything was a little bit ahead of time, so I was celebrating a bit before them. That same night, I was moved to tears of joy as well. The treble is a sensation that no one else in Italy will ever be able to match."

Career

Caterina Caselli discovered Andrea Bocelli and encouraged him to make a demo tape. Convinced, he sent the demo to the Italian rock star, Zucchero, in 1992. Impressed with the demo tape, Zucchero recorded a duet which became a hit, and offered Bocelli to accompany him on his 1993 concert tour. Sugar Music in Milan offered Bocelli a contract, and his debut album, "Il Mare Calmo della Sera," was released in April 1994. It charted in the Italian Top Ten and was certified platinum within weeks. He released a studio album nearly every year after that, including Bocelli (1995), Viaggio Italiano (1996-1997), Aria: The Opera Album (1998), Sogno (1999), Sacred Arias (1999), Verdi (2000), Cieli di Toscana (2001), Sentimento (2002), Andrea (2004), Amore (2006), Incanto (2008), My Christmas (2009), Passione (2013), Cinema (2015), and Si (2018). Bocelli has recorded 15 solo studio albums, three greatest hits albums, and nine complete operas, which have sold over 90 million records worldwide combined.