Andrea Bocelli

Along with his expressive and emotive delivery, Andrea Bocelli’s powerful tenor has made him one of the world’s most popular vocalists, inspiring the same veneration among peers that he does with audiences.

Italian star Zucchero was one of the first to recognize his talent when he heard a demo tape of the young singer—who was born in 1958 in the Tuscan town of Lajatico—and enlisted him for the 1993 duet “Miserere.” (Zucchero also played Bocelli for Luciano Pavarotti, who became another early supporter.) On the heels of that hit, Bocelli shifted out of his career as a lawyer to become a phenomenon, first in Europe and then internationally with Romanza, the 1997 compilation that was a surprise blockbuster.

The key to his success was his ability to channel the romance, passion, and high drama of opera into performances that were equally enthralling to listeners who don’t know their Verdi from their Monteverdi.