8.6 Inspiring People with Disabilities

Andrea Bocelli was born on 22nd September 1958. He is an Italian singer, songwriter and record producer known around the globe.

Andrea was born with poor eyesight and became completely blind at the age of 12, but that didn’t make him give up his dreams. When his mother was pregnant with him, doctors had recommended an abortion, saying that she was going to give birth to a child with disabilities. She decided to keep her son and that decision made Andrea oppose abortion in his later life. His family lived in the small village of La Sterza, not far from Pisa, and that is where he spent his childhood. They sold farm machinery and made wine on their family farm.

Bocelli had always shown great passion for music and, according to his mother that was the only thing that could comfort him and make him feel better. He started piano lessons when he was 6 years old. He later learned to play the flute, saxophone, trumpet, trombone, guitar, and drums. Around that time, his grandmother gave him a record of Franco Corelli, and that is when he decided to become a tenor. Within a year, he learned to recognize all the famous voices of his time and became even more determined to succeed. At the age of 12, during a football match, Bocelli lost his sight completely. He was hit in the eye by a goalkeeper. Since he was diagnosed with glaucoma when he was born, his eyesight couldn’t be saved regardless of the doctor’s effort.

Bocelli sang from an early age and gave his first concert in a small village not far from where he was born. He won his first singing competition at the age of 14, with “O sole mio”. He wasn’t just successful in music. In 1980, he finished secondary school and started studying law at the University of Pisa. He finished law school and spent one year as a court-appointed lawyer.

From 1992 until today, Andrea Bocelli is among the most successful singers and producers in the world. His career started with the famous Italian festival Sanremo. In 1994, he won the Newcomers section and was invited to come back the following year. He sang “Con Te Partiro”, which instantly became a hit. In Belgium, “Con Te Partiro” became the best-selling single of all time. The same thing happened with the song “Vivo per lei”, recorded a few years later. Andrea sang in theatres, concert halls, in front of popes and presidents, and he is still one of the most famous singers of all time, showing how far one can come when pursuing a dream.

Andrea Bocelli was born on 22nd September 1958. He is an Italian singer, songwriter and record producer known around the globe.

Andrea was born with poor eyesight and became completely blind at the age of 12, but that didn’t make him give up his dreams. When his mother was pregnant with him, doctors had recommended an abortion, saying that she was going to give birth to a child with disabilities. She decided to keep her son and that decision made Andrea oppose abortion in his later life. His family lived in the small village of La Sterza, not far from Pisa, and that is where he spent his childhood. They sold farm machinery and made wine on their family farm.

Bocelli had always shown great passion for music and, according to his mother that was the only thing that could comfort him and make him feel better. He started piano lessons when he was 6 years old. He later learned to play the flute, saxophone, trumpet, trombone, guitar, and drums. Around that time, his grandmother gave him a record of Franco Corelli, and that is when he decided to become a tenor. Within a year, he learned to recognize all the famous voices of his time and became even more determined to succeed. At the age of 12, during a football match, Bocelli lost his sight completely. He was hit in the eye by a goalkeeper. Since he was diagnosed with glaucoma when he was born, his eyesight couldn’t be saved regardless of the doctor’s effort.

Bocelli sang from an early age and gave his first concert in a small village not far from where he was born. He won his first singing competition at the age of 14, with “O sole mio”. He wasn’t just successful in music. In 1980, he finished secondary school and started studying law at the University of Pisa. He finished law school and spent one year as a court-appointed lawyer.

From 1992 until today, Andrea Bocelli is among the most successful singers and producers in the world. His career started with the famous Italian festival Sanremo. In 1994, he won the Newcomers section and was invited to come back the following year. He sang “Con Te Partiro”, which instantly became a hit. In Belgium, “Con Te Partiro” became the best-selling single of all time. The same thing happened with the song “Vivo per lei”, recorded a few years later. Andrea sang in theatres, concert halls, in front of popes and presidents, and he is still one of the most famous singers of all time, showing how far one can come when pursuing a dream.

Andrea Bocelli was born on 22nd September 1958. He is an Italian singer, songwriter and record producer known around the globe.

Andrea was born with poor eyesight and became completely blind at the age of 12, but that didn’t make him give up his dreams. When his mother was pregnant with him, doctors had recommended an abortion, saying that she was going to give birth to a child with disabilities. She decided to keep her son and that decision made Andrea oppose abortion in his later life. His family lived in the small village of La Sterza, not far from Pisa, and that is where he spent his childhood. They sold farm machinery and made wine on their family farm.

Bocelli had always shown great passion for music and, according to his mother that was the only thing that could comfort him and make him feel better. He started piano lessons when he was 6 years old. He later learned to play the flute, saxophone, trumpet, trombone, guitar, and drums. Around that time, his grandmother gave him a record of Franco Corelli, and that is when he decided to become a tenor. Within a year, he learned to recognize all the famous voices of his time and became even more determined to succeed. At the age of 12, during a football match, Bocelli lost his sight completely. He was hit in the eye by a goalkeeper. Since he was diagnosed with glaucoma when he was born, his eyesight couldn’t be saved regardless of the doctor’s effort.

Bocelli sang from an early age and gave his first concert in a small village not far from where he was born. He won his first singing competition at the age of 14, with “O sole mio”. He wasn’t just successful in music. In 1980, he finished secondary school and started studying law at the University of Pisa. He finished law school and spent one year as a court-appointed lawyer.

From 1992 until today, Andrea Bocelli is among the most successful singers and producers in the world. His career started with the famous Italian festival Sanremo. In 1994, he won the Newcomers section and was invited to come back the following year. He sang “Con Te Partiro”, which instantly became a hit. In Belgium, “Con Te Partiro” became the best-selling single of all time. The same thing happened with the song “Vivo per lei”, recorded a few years later. Andrea sang in theatres, concert halls, in front of popes and presidents, and he is still one of the most famous singers of all time, showing how far one can come when pursuing a dream.