>>> SOME ARTISTS ARE JUST BORN
WITH A GIFT, TO PAINT, TO WRITE,
TO PLAY, TO SING, BUT THE GIFT
IS ONLY THE BEGINNING OF A
SUCCESS STORY.
THE HUNGER TO PERFECT THE GIFT
AND THE SUPPORT OF OTHERS ALONG
THAT ROAD ARE JUST AS IMPORTANT.
IN OUR SUNDAY CLOSER, KERRY
SANDERS INTRODUCES US TO A YOUNG
MAN WITH A GIFT OF A WORLD CLASS
VOICE AND THE COMMUNITY THAT'S
MAKING SURE THE WORLD HEARS IT.
*
>> Reporter: ANTHONY ANDERSON
CONSIDERS HIMSELF LUCKY.
HE SNAGGED A PART-TIME JOB
ASSEMBLING FURNITURE AT HIS OLD
MIDDLE SCHOOL, BUT TRUTH BE
TOLD, ANTHONY'S LIFE HAS NEVER
BEEN LUCKY.
THE YOUNGEST OF SEVEN, HE GREW
UP WITHOUT A FATHER.
>> HERE'S A PICTURE OF MY
FATHER.
I KEEP IT ON MY MIRROR TO REMIND
ME OF HIM.
>> Reporter: WHEN ANTHONY WAS 3
HIS DAD WAS KILLED IN A DRIVE-BY
SHOOTING.
LAST YEAR ANTHONY WAS SO PROUD
HE WAS LEAVING WASHINGTON'S
INNER CITY HEADED OFF TO
COLLEGE, BUT AFTER JUST ONE
SEMESTER AT VIRGINIA
COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY HE WAS
FORCED OUT.
JUST COULDN'T AFFORD THE TUITION
BILL, THIS FROM A KID WHO IN
HIGH SCHOOL LEARNED TO SPEAK
GERMAN AND ITALIAN STRETCHING
HIS JAW ALL PART OF A MOST
UNUSUAL DREAM.
LIKE HIS FRIENDS WHO LISTENED TO
RAP AND HIP-HOP, ANTHONY HAD
NEVER HEARD OF LA TRAVIATA BUT
SOMETHING INSIDE HIM DREW
ANTHONY TO OPERA.
*
>> OPERA?
>> YES, OPERA.
>> YOUR FRIENDS LAUGH?
>> YEAH, THEY DID, BUT NOT
ANYMORE.
>> BUT AFTER FOUR YEARS AT DUKE
ELLINGTON HIGH SCHOOL FOR THE
ARTS AND COUNTLESS HOURS WORKING
WITH PRIVATE TUTOR MICHAEL
CRANDALL TO BE A COLLEGE DROPOUT
WAS PAINFUL.
>> I WANTED TO CONTINUE ON AT
VCU BUT I JUST DIDN'T HAVE THAT
MONEY.
>> SO THE DREAM CAME TO AN END?
>> OR SO I THOUGHT.
>> THIS IS WHERE ANTHONY'S STORY
TAKES ANOTHER TURN.
*
>> Reporter: HERE AT SAINT
LUKE'S, THE SECOND OLDEST
AFRICAN-AMERICAN CHURCH IN D.C.
THE CHORAL DIRECTOR INVITED
ANTHONY TO SING.
>> I FELT LIKE I HAD SOMETHING I
HAD TO SING FOR.
>> RECORDED ON A CELL PHONE, IT
MAY BE ANTHONY'S GREATEST
PERFORMANCE EVER.
THE AUDIENCE SO ENGAGED THEY
DIDN'T RAISE ENOUGH MONEY TO PAY
OFF HIS COLLEGE DEBT BUT ANOTHER
$40,000 ON GO FUND ME TO PAY FOR
THE NEXT YEAR OF COLLEGE.
>> FOR A YOUNG AFRICAN-AMERICAN
MAN IN THIS SOCIETY WHO HAS
CHOSEN NOT ONLY HIGHER EDUCATION
BUT IN AN AREA THAT NOT TOO MANY
YOUNG AFRICAN-AMERICAN MALES
CHOOSE.
>> OPERA?
>> OPERA.
>> Reporter: THE STORY COULD END
THERE, BUT LIKE AN OPERA,
THERE'S AN ENCORE THAT WILL
BRING YOU TO YOUR FEET.
*
>> Reporter: SEVERAL
UNIVERSITIES HEARD ABOUT
ANTHONY'S STORY.
>> JULLIARD, OVER LAND
CONSERVATO
CONSERVATORY.
DUQUESNE.
>> Reporter: HUMBLE FROM
ANTHONY.
>> I HONESTLY AM THANKFUL OF
EVERYTHING.
MY DREAM IS TO BE A
PROFESSIONAL OPERA SINGER
WORLDWIDE SO I WANT TO TRAVEL
THE WORLD WITH MY VOICE AND
SHARE IT WITH THE PEOPLE.
>> Reporter: SO WHEN I SAY THE
NAME BALARATE OR DOMINGO, WILL I
ONE DAY BE SAYING ANDERSON?
>> I HOPE SO.
>> Reporter: FOR "SUNDAY TODAY,"
KERRY SANDERS, WASHINGTON, D.C.
>> REMEMBER THAT NAME, ANTHONY
ANDERSON.
KERRY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>>> THIS WEEK WE HIGHLIGHT
ANOTHER LIFE WELL LIVED.
PONCHO SIGURA WAS BORN
PREMATURELY IN A BUS ON A WAY TO
THE HOSPITAL IN ECUADOR.
HIS SMALL SIZE AND BOWED LEGS
KEPT HIM OUT OF THE POPULAR
SPORT OF SOCCER.
INSTEAD HE TAUGHT HIMSELF TO
PLAY TENNIS.
RAISED IN POVERTY AS THE OLDEST
OF TEN CHILDREN HE GOT A JOB AS
A BALL BOY IN AN EXCLUSIVE
COUNTRY CLUB WHERE HE LEARNED
THE GAME.
HE WAS SUCH A PHENOM IN ECUADOR
THAT HE WAS RECRUITED TO THE
UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI WHERE HE WON
THE NCAA SINGLES CHAMPIONSHIP
FROM 1943 TO 1945.
BY 1950 THE 5'6" SIGURA HAD
BECOME THE NUMBER ONE PLAYER.
HE STARRED AS A BARNSTORMING PRO
WHEN A.M. MO AMATEURS COULD PLAY IN
TOURNAMENTS LIKE WIMBLEDON.
HE BECAME A TEACHING PRO AT
BEVERLY HILLS TENNIS CLUB.
HE LATER BECAME A COACH
MENTORING A YOUNG PLAYER NAMED
JIMMY CONNORS AND GUIDING HIM TO
EIGHT MAJOR SINGLES TITLES.