Some childhood dreams come true. This is the case with jazz singer Michael Bublé: a Canadian with Italian roots who takes the hearts of his fans by storm with his extraordinary voice and charisma.
Michael began dreaming of a career as a singer when his Italian grandfather first introduced him to the music of the US swing jazz group The Mills Brothers as a young boy. The music impressed him so much that from then on his career aspiration was clear: he wanted to become a singer.
His grandfather encourages him in this wish and supports Michael in his participation in various talent competitions. The young singer worked tirelessly on his way into the limelight, recording several self-financed albums and singing in musicals. But he owes his final breakthrough to a pure coincidence.
Breakthrough at a wedding
Michael Bublé is singing at the wedding of the daughter of a local Canadian politician when he catches the eye of one of the guests with his interpretation of Kurt Weill's "Mackie Messer" from the Threepenny Opera. The guest is none other than David Foster, music producer and multiple Grammy winner.
Foster is so taken with the wedding singer that he signs him to a contract. In 2003, the first album from this collaboration is released - it is simply called "Michael Bublé" and conquers the charts not only in Canada. His second album "It's Time" (2005), meanwhile released by Reprise Records of the Warner Music Group, also made him a star in Germany: it climbed to number two in the charts and was awarded double platinum for over six million units sold. It's Time" features Bublé's interpretations of well-known swing, jazz and pop songs (such as those by Nina Simone, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder and the Beatles) as well as his own composition "Home", which becomes a worldwide hit.
With the follow-up album "Call Me Irresponsible" (2007), he cracks No. 1 in Germany and again receives a platinum award for record sales. Tickets for Michael Bublé's shows also sell extremely well. His talent for making swing and jazz songs accessible to mainstream audiences has had a lasting impact on the music scene. This is evidenced by several Grammys and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Star without airs
You could almost expect such groundbreaking successes to go to an artist's head. Not so with Michael Bublé: whether on tour or in the studio, with every song you can tell that he has made his passion his profession.
The singer is unusually open about his private life. Fans not only know about his marriage to the Argentinean model Luisana Lopilato. They also showed great sympathy when one of the couple's children was diagnosed with cancer a few years ago - and eventually beat it.
Michael Bublé also ventures in front of the film camera from time to time. For example, he has already appeared as a guest actor in the mystery series "The X-Files". On German television, Michael Bublé is always a welcome guest on shows and talk shows.