Amazing Talented Tenors

Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli was born with congenital glaucoma and at the age of 12 became completely blind. However, due to his talent he went on to become a famous opera and popular music singer. The singer has sold over 75 million records since 1994 and won the Grammy for Best New Artist. Among his most popular songs is “The Prayer,” which he recorded as a duet with Celine Dion for the animated movie “Quest for Camelot.”He has toured the world numerous times.

Spanish tenor Jose Carreras was the youngest of the Three Tenors, along with Placido Domingo and Luciano Pavarotti. He is known to have performed 70 tenor roles all over the world. He was the music director for the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona. After his bout with leukemia, the singer has raised over $70 million for the treatment, awareness, and cure research for the disease. The Three Tenors Christmas performed “Amazing Grace”: José Carreras, Plácido Domingo, Luciano Pavarotti, Steven Mercurio & the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra.

Italian tenor Enrico Caruso was the most recognizable tenor before Pavarotti. (pictured above) As a singer, Caruso became one of the first to embrace the new medium of audio recordings. This was shortly after Thomas Edison invented the phonograph. As a result, to preserve his great voice so other generations would know him, Caruso made hundreds of recordings. In opera Caruso was recognized for the roles of Canio in “Pagliacci” and Duke in “Rigoletto.” His later years were spent in New York City singing opera at the Metropolitan Opera House. Among his popular known songs is Cavalleria Rusticanna Brindisi (Drinking Song).

Spanish tenor Placido Domingo was considered to be one of the greatest opera singers in the world. He is known to have sung over 150 operatic roles. Domingo also sang lead roles in operatic movies, conducted many operas, and served as the general director for both the Washington National Opera and the Los Angeles Opera. He gained international fame joining Luciano Pavarotti and Jose Carreras as part of The Three Tenors. In 1996 he started hosting an international singing competition, Operalia, for young performers. A beloved song performed by Domingo is “La Donna è Mobile” from Giuseppe Verdi’s opera, Rigoletto.

American singer and actor Mario Lanza was one of the best-known tenors in filmdom. He appeared on film in several operas under MGM Studios. His most notable film role was that of Enrico Caruso in “The Great Caruso.” He became popular filming the musical “The Student Prince” and the memorable drinking song scene.

Italian tenor Luciano Pavarotti became famous and sang in renowned opera houses all over the world. Amazingly, he also did well performing pop music. His fan referred to him as the King of the High Cs since he could reach this high note with no vocal strain. Pavarotti was part of the Three Tenors along with Jose Carreras and Placido Domingo. They sang the National Anthem at the 1990 World Cup final before embarking on a series of concerts in Los Angeles and elsewhere. Pavarotti’s signature song was the Italian aria “Nessun ”Dorma”/“None Shall Sleep”.

Rocking Tenors

American singer Sam Cooke was known for his hit songs such as “Twistin’ the Night Away.” 29 of his songs reached the Billboard Top 40 charts.

American Motown singer and songwriter Marvin Gaye was popular when his tenor was heard in songs like “I Heard It Through the Grapevine” and “How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You).” He went on to win two Grammy Awards. He was inducted into three music halls of fame and presented with the Grammy Lifetime Achievement after his untimely passing.

American singer, songwriter, dancer, and performer Michael Jackson started out singing with his brothers in the American pop band The Jackson Five. He earned the title King of Pop and went on to sell over 400 million records worldwide. His tenor voice soars in original songs such as “Billie Jean” and “Beat It.” The singer won 15 Grammy Awards, and 13 songs went to number one on the pop charts.

British singer and songwriter Freddie Mercury became popular as the lead singer of the British rock band Queen. His magnificent tenor highlighted signature songs like “Bohemian Rhapsody,” “We Are the Champions,” “Under Pressure,” and “Crazy Little Thing Called Love.” After dying from complications due to AIDS in 1991, he was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll, Songwriters, and UK Music Halls of Fame.

English singer and songwriter George Michael was part of the successful group Wham! Before he went on to a solo career. His album Faith sold almost 25 million copies and released the hit singles “Father Figure,” “One More Try,” “Monkey,” and the title track. Faith won the 1989 Grammy Award for Album of the Year. He gained international fame when he teamed up with English singer and songwriter Elton John and created the hit duet “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me.” The singer raised millions of dollars for AIDS research.

American singer Frankie Valli was the lead singer for the rock group The Four Seasons. During the popularity of the group in the 1960s and 1970s, they had many number one songs, which stood out with the amazing voice of Valli. Among them was “Sherry.”The Four Seasons was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990. Among his best-known solo hits was “Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You.”

American singer and rhythm and blues superstar Luther Vandross let everyone hear this amazing voice when he teamed up in a duet with Mariah Carey, “Endless Love.” Vandross was also well-known for providing the tenor vocals on other noted duets, such as “The Closer I Get to You” with Beyoncé and “The Best Things IinLife Are Free” with Janet Jackson.He earned eight Grammy Awards, including Song of the Year for “Dance with My FFather.