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Andreea Bocelli
Andreea Bocelli
Bocelli was born to Alessandro and Edi Bocelli, even though they were
advised to abort him. He has stated that his mother's decision to give
birth to him and overrule the doctor's advice was the inspiration for
him to hold a pro-life view towards abortion. They lived on the family
farm, selling farm machinery and making wine in the small village of
La Sterza, a frazione of Lajatico, Tuscany, Italy, about 40 km (25 mi)
south of Pisa. Bocelli's mother and younger brother Alberto still live in
the family home. Bocelli's father died in 2000.
As a young boy, Bocelli showed a great passion for music. His mother
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, guitar and drums. Then, when
his nanny, Oriana, gave him the first record of Franco Corelli, he
realized that pursuing the career of a tenor was his destiny. By seven,
he was able to recognize the famous voices of the time and tried to
emulate the great interpreters.
Bocelli also spent time singing during his childhood. He gave his first
concert in a small village not far from where he was born. At the age
of 14, he won his first song competition, the Margherita d'Oro in
Viareggio with "'O sole mio". After finishing secondary school in 1980,
Loss of sight
Doctors had advised Bocelli's parents to abort
Andrea before birth as they predicted based on
studies, that Bocelli would be born with a disability.
The Bocellis declined and gave birth to Andrea. It
was evident at birth that Bocelli had numerous
problems with his sight, and after visits to many
doctors, he was diagnosed with congenital
glaucoma In 1970, at the age of 12, he lost his sight
completely following an accident during a football
game.He was hit in the eye playing goalkeeper
during a match and suffered a brain hemorrhage.
Doctors resorted to leeches in a desperate lastditch effort to save his sight, but they were
unsuccessful, and he remained blind.