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CNN World Report

Italian Boy Sings His Way to Fame

Aired June 24, 2001 - 14:24   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ASIEH NAMDAR, CNN ANCHOR: A teenage singing sensation is winning a lot of claim in Azerbaijan.

SHIHAB RATTANSI, CNN ANCHOR: MIR TV Azerbaijan introduces us to the 14 year-old budding star, who is quickly becoming one of the familiar voices of the country.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

YUDMILA GARAYEVA, MIR TV CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): They often call him Latino (UNINTELLIGIBLE), although he does not like to be called that way. His music teachers think that he (UNINTELLIGIBLE) sings just like him and there should not be another comparison. He has a style of his own and being 14-years-old he has a very stagey appearance.

He started to sing earlier than he started to speak, but at first, he was not accepted to the musical school because he did not have any talent in singing. Thanks to his professional singing on his dad's birthday, everybody started to believe in the talent given to him by God.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): There was a time I knew he would be a great singer, I never thought it before. Only after his birthday performance, I started to believe in him.

GARAYEVA: His father was a former singer who quit singing, devoting his time to his son only. He had to sell a big house in order to get a small apartment. All of the monies they got from the house was spent on teachers, composers, musicians, et cetera.

His father was right. He did become popular. Among the five most popular kids of Azerbaijan, he got the president's scholarship; he took first place on the most popular prestigious competitions. First place in international festivals in Albania, (UNINTELLIGIBLE), first place international kids festival in Kazakstan. Wonderful achievements in Moscow and England.

An interesting thing happened to him in Albania. The next day after the performance, the Italian ambassador in Albania came to the rehearsal, and wanted to see the Italian. Only after, he believed that he was not Italian, but Azerbaijese (ph).

He has just won a dream. "I want to become a great singer and get an education in the Italian Academy."

He does not have his own team. His father is both his manager and even barber.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): My dad is my friend. He is everything to me.

GARAYEVA: His attitude toward his fame is quite normal and it is not likely he will get fame sickness, he just likes to sing and it is as natural for him as breathing.

Yudmila Garayeva, Azerbaijan, special for CNN.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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