Andrea Bocelli and his son, Matteo Bocelli, are a remarkable musical duo, each possessing their own unique talents that have earned them widespread acclaim in the music industry.
Andrea is an iconic Italian tenor whose soul-stirring voice has left an indelible mark on the world of classical and crossover music. Born on Sept. 22, 1958, in Lajatico, Tuscany, Andrea faced numerous challenges from an early age, losing his sight completely at the age of 12 due to a soccer accident. However, this setback did not deter him from pursuing his passion for music. Over the years, he has mesmerized audiences with his emotive performances, delivering timeless opera pieces as well as captivating contemporary songs. Andrea’s voice is characterized by its power, warmth and ability to evoke deep emotions, making him one of the most celebrated and beloved singers of his generation.
Matteo, born on Oct. 8, 1997, has emerged as a rising star in his own right. Following in his father’s footsteps, Matteo inherited the gift of a beautiful singing voice. His silky-smooth tones and impressive vocal range have garnered considerable attention, showcasing his potential to follow in the footsteps of his famous father.
The musical connection between Andrea and Matteo was made even more special when they collaborated on the heartfelt duet “Fall on Me.” Released in 2018, the song blends the soulful harmonies of father and son, creating a touching and unforgettable performance.
Together, Andrea and Matteo’s musical legacy continues to touch hearts and transcend boundaries, uniting people through the power of music and the beautiful bond they share as a family. Now, Matteo has stepped out of his father’s shadow by releasing his debut solo album and working with one of the biggest names in music today for his first single off the record.
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Matteo Bocelli (2022), (Elisabetta A. Villa/Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images)
Matteo’s parents played a big part in encouraging him to pursue his musical aspirations. Andrea even dedicated his own time to helping his son develop his skills. “From the first day I decided to pursue this career, he became a tutor, a trusted person with a lot of experience in the field who can always give me the right advice,” Matteo said about his father.
This led Matteo to make his debut at 19 years old as a tenor in 2016 to a 12,000-strong home crowd audience. From there, it was only time before Matteo would branch out on his own.
In June 2023, Matteo announced the release of his self-titled debut album on Instagram. “I can’t believe I finally get to say this: my new album, Matteo, is out September 22nd! … Thanks so much for your support – I can’t wait for you to hear it,” he wrote in the caption.
After three hard years of work on the album, Matteo told People he felt “like I’ve been able to really put in these songs all the things I wanted to talk about, from love songs to the ones about things that really mean a lot to me in my life, like friendship.” He added while his father leans toward classical music and crooners like Frank Sinatra, he himself grew up listening to artists like Eminem.
“I enjoy sharing music with him — some he likes a lot, some less. But at the end of the day, I have to like the stuff I make, and if I’m happy, he’s happy for me,” Matteo added.
After the album’s release, Matteo will head on the road for his first solo tour. Among the hits he’ll be belting out is the record’s first single, written by one of Matteo’s heroes.
Ed Sheeran (2023), (Debra L Rothenberg/WireImage via Getty Images)
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The first single off Matteo’s album is called “Chasing Stars,” and was co-written by none other than music superstar Ed Sheeran and his brother, Matt Sheeran. In announcing its release, Matteo shared that he “never could have imagined that I’d have a piece of (Ed’s) work on my first album.”
Matteo first met Ed while the singer-songwriter was working with Andrea on the 2017 song “Perfect Symphony.” Matteo then reached out to see if he could write him a song.
“(Ed) sent me a few songs, but the one that really, really, really I loved so much was ‘Chasing Stars.’ The story was fitting so much to myself because, of course, we both had in common the fact that we were born in a family that loved music, and this passion was given from our parents,” Matteo told People, adding he was “super, super excited” to work with Ed.
Upon first hearing it, Matteo said he thought the song was “perfect as it was.” However, it was reworked to better fit Matteo’s singing style, something the British artist had absolutely no problem with as “he respects every artist’s (personal) ideas, (and wants you to) feel comfortable and authentic in what you do.”
He also explained to Billboard that Ed “gave me the freedom to perform the song the way I like… He encouraged me to perform it the way I feel, because he said, ‘At the end of the day, you’re going to be on stage performing the songs.'”
As Matteo makes his big leap into the solo tour, the pressure is on but not necessarily overwhelming.
“You can imagine how different it is to go and perform on a stage knowing all those people are there just for you. But we live for this, and I’m super happy,” he said.
What do you think of the collaboration between Matteo Bocelli and Ed Sheeran? Do you feel Matteo has what it takes to become as big a star as his father? Let us know, then pass this along to all the music lovers you know!