George Michael
Biography
George Michael, born Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou on June 25, 1963, in East Finchley, London, was an English singer, songwriter, and record producer who rose to fame as a member of the pop duo Wham! and went on to have a hugely successful solo career. He developed an interest in music at a young age and met his future Wham! partner, Andrew Ridgeley, at Bushey Meads School. Before forming Wham!, Michael busked on the London Underground and worked as a DJ.
Wham!
In 1981, Michael and Ridgeley formed the pop duo Wham!. Their debut album, "Fantastic," released in 1983, reached number one in the UK. The band's second album, "Make It Big" (1984), was a massive commercial success, reaching number one in the US and launching a world tour. It featured the hit single "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go." Another iconic song, "Careless Whisper," co-written by Michael and Ridgeley when they were 17, became a number one hit and a pop classic. In 1985, Wham! became the first Western pop group to tour China. The duo released the now-classic holiday song "Last Christmas" in 1984. Citing creative differences, Wham! announced their amicable split in 1986.
Solo Career
Faith Era
George Michael's debut solo album, "Faith," was released in 1987. He wrote, performed, and produced all the tracks on the album. "Faith" was a critical and commercial triumph, selling over 25 million copies worldwide and topping the charts in both the UK and the US. The album produced four number-one singles in the US: "Faith," "Father Figure," "One More Try," and "Monkey." It won a Grammy Award for Album of the Year and three American Music Awards.
Subsequent Albums and Success
His second solo album, "Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1," was released in 1990 and included the anthem "Freedom! '90." The album sold over 8 million copies. In 1991, his duet with Elton John, "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me," topped the charts in the UK and US. Michael's third solo album, "Older," was released in 1996 and was described by him as his first completely honest album. He also released "Songs from the Last Century" (1999), a collection of covers, and "Patience" (2004). His last album, "Symphonica," a live album from his 2011-2012 tour, was released in 2014.
Personal Life and Legacy
George Michael publicly came out as gay in 1998 and became a prominent advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and HIV/AIDS charities. Throughout his life, he faced personal struggles, including the loss of his first love to AIDS and the death of his mother, which he detailed in the documentary "George Michael: Freedom." He was also known for his immense generosity, donating millions to various causes. George Michael passed away on December 25, 2016, at the age of 53 from heart and liver disease. In 2023, he was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He has sold over 120 million albums worldwide and remains one of the best-selling music artists of all time.