Andrea Bocelli
Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli spent a year working as a lawyer before he decided to try a singing career and started playing piano in bars. His big break came in 1992 after his manager sent a demo tape to Italian rock star Zucchero. He has since sold over 80 million records worldwide and is the biggest-selling artist in the history of classical music.
Leonard Cohen
Leonard Cohen made a small name for himself in the Canadian world of poetry in the 1960s, but it wasn't until he was in his 30s that he released his first album, "Songs of Leonard Cohen." Since then he has been inducted into the American Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the Canadian Music Hall of Fame and the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame.
Johnny Cash
Johnny Cash was a member of the US Air Force before he made his name in the music industry. He made his first recordings at Sun Records in 1955 and fame arrived in 1956 when Cash wrote and released "I Walk The Line." He has since been inducted in the Country Music Hall of Fame, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Gospel Music Hall of Fame, and is considered to be one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century. His life was adapted into the film biopic 'Walk the Line', starring Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon.
Susan Boyle
Susan Boyle shot to stardom in 2009 at the age of 47 after she performed Les Misérables’ "I Dreamed a Dream" on TV show Britain's Got Talent. She has since released three albums - her debut, I Dreamed a Dream, became the UK's best-selling debut album of all time - and she is currently planning a world tour for 2014.
Charles Bradley
Charles Bradley was a James Brown impersonator, under the name of Black Velvet, for 40 years until he gained attention in his own right. He released his debut album in 2011 at the age of 62. He is a guest on the Tony Fenton Show this afternoon.
