A Rare Glimpse Into Andrea Bocelli's Private Life Is Throwing Us For A Loop

When world-famous Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli steps up to the microphone, everyone in the room shuts up and listens. But while his voice dances with perfection, his life has been everything except a continuous high note. Though the singer found professional success after success, few saw the struggles he faced to reach the top — or the person who secretly helped him get there.

Born Visually Impaired

It's crazy to think Andrea Bocelli, one of the world's finest award-winning Italian tenors, has never seen what his audiences look like. Visually impaired from birth, he never saw any of the incredible journey that brought him to the top — but boy, did he feel it.

A Star Is Born

Of course, he wasn't born a famous singer. On September 22, 1958, the commune of Lajatico in Tuscany, Italy, was where Bocelli emerged to the world, and from an early age, he loved music.

A Passion For Music

Bocelli's parents were incredibly supportive of their son's passion for music, and that allowed him to explore several different avenues. He could play the piano by age six, and then learned the flute and saxophone. At 12, however, tragedy struck.

Tragedy Strikes

Although he wasn't blind at birth — he was diagnosed with congenital glaucoma, a visual impairment — a 1970 hit to the head while playing soccer left him completely unable to see. For almost anyone, this would've been the end of his music career.