Singer George Michael dies at age 53
George Michael, the British singer and songwriter who burst to pop superstardom in the 1980s in the duo Wham!, then expanded his influence as a solo act with a combination of hit songs and frank sexual imagery, has died. He was 53 years old. His death was confirmed Christmas Day by his publicist in a statement to the BBC.
He was born Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou in a London suburb in 1963. With Andrew Ridgeley, a schoolmate, Michael formed Wham! in 1981. The duo’s second album, “Make It Big,” epitomized the decade’s fashion for glossy songs with buoyant melodies, and spawned international hits such “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go” and “Freedom.”
The duo’s song “Last Christmas” became a staple of holiday playlists. Michael’s role as frontman, especially in the enduring ballad “Careless Whisper,” overshadowed his bandmate and Wham! announced their breakup in 1986, the Wall Street Journal reported.
Michael capitalized on his momentum with the 1987 solo album “Faith,” which won a Grammy for album of the year. It cemented his success as a solo artist with insistent grooves and racy music videos, launching hits including the title track and “I Want Your Sex.” With later releases, Michael sought to broaden his image and expand his sound with albums including “Listen Without Prejudice, Vol. 1” (1990) and “Older” (1996).
In 1998, the singer was arrested by an undercover policeman in Los Angeles for performing a lewd act in a public restroom. The incident clouded his career and turned his sexuality into a matter of public discussion. In the mid-2000s, controversy dogged him again, due to drug-related arrests.
A greatest hits collection released in 2006, “Twenty Five,” served as a career retrospective and facilitated his first major tour in more than a decade. A tour with an orchestra led to the recordings on 2014’s “Symphonica,” which would be his final release.
Starting with his lead presence in the 1984 fundraising song “Do They Know It’s Christmas,” Michael was also known for supporting charitable causes such as fighting AIDS and helping children.
In November, Michael announced that work was being completed on a documentary focused on his “Listen Without Prejudice” era, which included a court battle with his record label and the memorable “Freedom! ‘90” music video, directed by David Fincher and starring supermodels of the day.
