Singer Andrea Bocelli (1958) sang in piano bars for money while he studied law, and he spent a year as a court-appointed lawyer before "Romanza" and "Con te partirò" turned him into a global name. "Sacred Arias" is still the biggest-selling classical album by any solo artist, and this year he sang "Nessun dorma" at the Milan Cortina opening ceremony, with the Romanza anniversary tour booked through December.
Singer Joan Jett (1958) came out of the Runaways on "Cherry Bomb," and when the labels all passed on her solo debut she started Blackheart Records, put it out herself and watched "Bad Reputation" catch on. She and the Blackhearts then sent "I Love Rock 'n' Roll" to No. 1, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame brought them in, and she played five nights at the House of Blues in Las Vegas this year.
Actress Bonnie Hunt (1961) was working as a nurse and performing with Second City when she auditioned for "Rain Man" on her lunch break and got it. She stole scenes in "Jerry Maguire" and "The Green Mile," co-wrote and directed "Return to Me," and has voiced Sally across the "Cars" films with another turn due on "Cars: Lightning Racers."
Actress Teyonah Parris (1987) trained at Juilliard and played Dawn Chambers on "Mad Men," and the show had never had a major African American character before her. She broke through in "Dear White People," took on Monica Rambeau for "WandaVision" and "The Marvels," and has "Matchbox The Movie" landing next month.
Pastor Jeremiah Wright (1941), Singer-dancer Toni Basil (1943), Actor Paul Le Mat (1945), Singer King Sunny Adé (1946), Football player Harold Carmichael (1949), Singer David Coverdale of Whitesnake (1951), Singer Richard Fairbrass of Right Said Fred (1953), Musician Doug Wimbish of Living Colour (1956), Singer Nick Cave (1957), Singer Johnette Napolitano of Concrete Blonde (1957), Hockey player Mark Johnson (1957), Journalist Neil Cavuto (1958), Actress Lynn Herring (1958), Figure skater Tai Babilonia (1959), Physicist Saul Perlmutter (1959), Actor Scott Baio (1960), Actress Catherine Oxenberg (1961), Actor Rob Stone (1962), Actor-screenwriter Dan Bucatinsky (1965), Actress-screenwriter Ruth Jones (1966), Hockey player Mike Richter (1966), Actor Matt Besser (1967), Comedian Sue Perkins (1969), Musician Matt Sharp of Weezer (1969), Actor Rupert Penry-Jones (1970), Rapper Mystikal (1970), Actor Chris Tallman (1970), Actor Lawrence Gilliard Jr. (1971), Actor James Hillier (1973), Wrestler Bob Sapp (1973), Actress-singer Jenn Colella (1974), Actress Mireille Enos (1975), Actress Daniella Alonso (1978), Actress MyAnna Buring (1979), Actor Michael Graziadei (1979), Basketball player Swin Cash (1979), Actress Katie Lowes (1982), Actress Billie Piper (1982), Musician Will Farquarson of Bastille (1983), Actress Laura Vandervoort (1984), Actress Tatiana Maslany (1985), Actor Ukweli Roach (1986), Actor-director Will Sharpe (1986), Actor Melvin Gregg (1988), Rapper Moneybagg Yo (1991), Actor Michael Rainey Jr. (2000), Singer Jessie Murph (2004)
