Famed Tenor Luciano Pavarotti Near Death

The classical musical world is about to lose one of the great tenors of our time:

ROME (Reuters) - Luciano Pavarotti's health has deteriorated sharply and the 71-year-old tenor is at home, unconscious and suffering from kidney failure, a television station reported on Wednesday.

Family and friends went to Pavarotti's home to be near the singer, considered one of the greatest tenors of his generation, E' TV Antenna Uno television station in Modena, the tenor's home town, reported.

I actually have a photo of myself with the great Italian tenor:

Well, to be truthful, that was a wax dummy on display at the Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas (the tenor, not the blogger).

I'll never forget seeing film of the three tenors singing at Dodger Stadium. It was a vibrato-fest but very entertaining. They'd make 3/4ths of a lousy quartet, but individually, they were brilliant.

UPDATE: Pavarotti has died at 71.