Textiles executive David Raminfard leads two California companies, New Point Fabrics, and Kaslen Textiles. David Raminfard is also a music aficionado, particularly of the renowned Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli, who has recorded many best-selling albums and collaborated with leading pop musicians.
Born in 1958 in Lajatico, Italy, Bocelli was a musical prodigy, learning to play the piano at the age of six. He suffered from glaucoma, and lost his sight at age 12 in a soccer accident. He also sang for family events, going on to win his first vocal competition in 1970. Later he refined his voice under composer Luciano Bettarini. Obeying his parents’ wishes, he became a lawyer but continued to perform in bars.
Bocelli’s musical career took off when Luciano Pavarotti heard one of his demo tapes. The song Miserere featured both singers and became a European hit.
Bocelli began singing duets with other luminaries, notably Sarah Brightman; their hit rendition of Time to Say Goodbye appeared on his 1997 album Romanza. His next work, Sogno, brought him international success; it included The Prayer with Celine Dion. The album and song earned him two Grammys.
Other pairings have followed. Nelly Furtado and Jennifer Lopez appeared on his CD Passione, and his 2015 Cinema includes duets with Nicole Sherzinger and Ariana Grande. Bocelli and Ed Sheeran have performed on each other’s albums.
Perhaps his most heartfelt performance came the same year when he sang The Lord’s Prayer to Pope Francis in Philadelphia. It was a transformative experience for Bocelli, a devout Catholic.
Responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, Bocelli presented a livestreamed concert, Music for Hope, in an empty cathedral in Milan, Italy, on Easter Sunday, 2020. The program favorites such as Ave Maria and Amazing Grace.
Bocelli has made just one appearance on the operatic stage, playing Rodolfo in an Italian production of La Boheme. He is married to his manager, Veronica Berti, with whom he had a daughter. Starting a family tradition, Bocelli recorded a single, Fall on Me, with his son Matteo from Bocelli’s first marriage.
Born in 1958 in Lajatico, Italy, Bocelli was a musical prodigy, learning to play the piano at the age of six. He suffered from glaucoma, and lost his sight at age 12 in a soccer accident. He also sang for family events, going on to win his first vocal competition in 1970. Later he refined his voice under composer Luciano Bettarini. Obeying his parents’ wishes, he became a lawyer but continued to perform in bars.
Bocelli’s musical career took off when Luciano Pavarotti heard one of his demo tapes. The song Miserere featured both singers and became a European hit.
Bocelli began singing duets with other luminaries, notably Sarah Brightman; their hit rendition of Time to Say Goodbye appeared on his 1997 album Romanza. His next work, Sogno, brought him international success; it included The Prayer with Celine Dion. The album and song earned him two Grammys.
Other pairings have followed. Nelly Furtado and Jennifer Lopez appeared on his CD Passione, and his 2015 Cinema includes duets with Nicole Sherzinger and Ariana Grande. Bocelli and Ed Sheeran have performed on each other’s albums.
Perhaps his most heartfelt performance came the same year when he sang The Lord’s Prayer to Pope Francis in Philadelphia. It was a transformative experience for Bocelli, a devout Catholic.
Responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, Bocelli presented a livestreamed concert, Music for Hope, in an empty cathedral in Milan, Italy, on Easter Sunday, 2020. The program favorites such as Ave Maria and Amazing Grace.
Bocelli has made just one appearance on the operatic stage, playing Rodolfo in an Italian production of La Boheme. He is married to his manager, Veronica Berti, with whom he had a daughter. Starting a family tradition, Bocelli recorded a single, Fall on Me, with his son Matteo from Bocelli’s first marriage.
