Personally Speaking ~ An Idol Becomes a Friend ~

 

This beautiful picture of Andrea Bocelli’s son Matteo,  Gianluca, Andrea and Ercole, made me think of this meaningful quote by Wilma Rudolph,  a famous American track and field sprinter.

“Never underestimate the power of dreams and the influence of the human spirit.  We are all the same in this notion: The potential for greatness lives within each of us.”

We all know that Andrea Bocelli has been an idol of Gianluca’s since he was very young.  Who can forget the heart warming reaction Gianluca had when  Andrea congratulated him on winning the Ti Lascio Una Canzone competition?  Gianluca was not the only one shedding tears during that beautiful moment.

Seeing this photo of the two of them together made me think of the “greatness” they both possess, the power of Gianluca’s dreams and the important  influence this person had in Gianluca’s life.

Born with poor eyesight, Andrea became permanently blind at the age of 12 following a football accident.  As a young boy he showed great passion for music.  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 the age of seven, he was able to recognize the famous voices of the time and tried to emulate the great interpreters.

Like Gianluca, 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.”  Does this not sort of parallel what we know of Gianluca’s start in singing?

Andrea has gone on to show the world his greatness not only in music, but in philanthropy and charitable work.  Gianluca has been doing the same giving of his time and talent to various charitable organizations and important causes close by his home town.

I see Gianluca being so positively influenced by not only his extraordinary parents and family, but by watching and learning from this great man as well.  Andrea gave him powerful words of advice upon winning that memorable competition...“Always think with the mind, Sing with your voice and listen to your heart.”   Look where the power of his dreams has brought him to this day.  

When introducing Andrea Bocelli during one of her Christmas specials, Celine Dion said, “if God would have a singing voice, he must sound a lot like Andrea Bocelli.”  I think it’s safe to say the same when talking about the voices of the men of Il Volo.

~~Jane~~

Photo credit to All Things Il Volo

Story excerpts from Wikipedia