George Michael Autograph

Profession:
(1963-2016) English singer-songwriter and record producer. He is one of the best-selling musicians of all time

Year of Birth: 1963

George Michael was an English singer, songwriter, record producer, and philanthropist who rose to fame in the 1980s when he formed the pop duo Wham! with his school friend Andrew Ridgeley. He was one of the most successful British solo artists of all time, selling over 100 million records worldwide.

George was born Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou on 25th June 1963 in East Finchley, London, to a Greek Cypriot father, Kyriacos Panayiotou, and an English mother, Lesley Angold (Harrison). He was raised in Kingsbury, London, and attended Kingsbury High School, where he met Andrew Ridgeley, with whom he formed Wham! in 1981. Their first album, Fantastic, was released in 1983 and included the hit singles "Young Guns (Go For It)" and "Wham Rap!".

George's solo career began with the release of his debut album, Faith, in 1987. The album was a huge success, selling more than 20 million copies worldwide and spawning six top-five singles, including the chart-toppers "I Want Your Sex" and "Faith". George's follow-up album, Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1, was released in 1990 and was also successful, selling more than 8 million copies worldwide. It included the hit singles "Praying for Time" and "Freedom! '90".

In the 1990s, George continued to release successful albums and singles, including "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" (a duet with Elton John), "Killer/Papa Was a Rollin' Stone" (a duet with the group Queen), and "Fastlove". He also released the album Older in 1996, which included the hit single "Jesus to a Child".

In 2004, George was arrested for marijuana possession after being found asleep in his car and was subsequently sentenced to community service. He also publicly admitted his homosexuality in 1998, making him one of the first major pop stars to do so. In 2006, he was diagnosed with pneumonia and was forced to cancel the remainder of his tour. Despite this, he continued to record and release music until his untimely death from heart failure on 25th December 2016.

George Michael's legacy lives on through his music and philanthropy. He was one of the most successful British solo artists of all time, selling over 100 million records worldwide and donating millions of pounds to charity. He will be remembered as a talented musician, an outspoken advocate for LGBT rights, and a generous philanthropist.