George Michael

Who Was George Michael?

George Michael, born Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou on June 25, 1963, in East Finchley, London, was a globally renowned singer, songwriter, and pop icon. He rose to fame in the 1980s as part of the pop duo Wham!, which he formed with his high school friend, Andrew Ridgeley. Their first major success came in 1984 with the global hit “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go.” In 1986, Michael embarked on a successful solo career, releasing his debut album Faith, which sold over 25 million copies worldwide and cemented his status as a pop superstar.

In 1998, Michael publicly revealed that he was gay following an arrest for lewd conduct, a revelation that marked a significant moment in his personal life. Despite this controversy, he continued to perform and remained a beloved figure in the music industry. In the mid-2000s, his career experienced a resurgence with the release of his greatest hits album Twenty Five, leading to a successful world tour. Throughout his life, Michael was also known for his philanthropic efforts, generously donating his time and wealth to various charitable causes. He passed away from heart and liver disease on December 25, 2016, at the age of 53.

Early Life and Wham!

Michael grew up in London and developed a love for music early on. In high school, he formed a friendship with Andrew Ridgeley, and the two bonded over their shared passion for pop music. Despite their contrasting personalities—Michael being shy and Ridgeley outgoing—they complemented each other musically. After a brief stint in a ska band called The Executive, the duo found success as Wham! in 1982 after signing with Innervision Records.

Their debut album, Fantastic!, released in the UK in 1982, reached No. 4 on the charts. By the time the album was released in the United States a year later, Wham! had already built a large following, particularly among teenage girls, thanks to their good looks and infectious pop sound. Their youthful energy and catchy hits, like “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go,” catapulted them into pop stardom.

Solo Career

While Listen Without Prejudice, Vol. 1 garnered some positive reviews, it achieved modest commercial success, selling approximately 1 million copies. During this period, Michael faced a protracted legal battle with his recording label, Sony, stemming from his belief that they had failed to adequately promote the album. He sought to terminate his recording contract, and the dispute lingered for several years, during which Michael produced only a handful of singles.

In 1991, he revived the duet “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me” with Elton John for a charitable cause, resulting in a No. 1 hit. The proceeds from this single were donated to London Lighthouse, an AIDS hospice, and the Rainbow Trust Children’s Charity. Later that year, Michael found chart success with “Too Funky,” a track included on Red Hot and Dance, another AIDS charity album.

After finally extricating himself from his contract with Sony, Michael released Older in 1996. The album featured two successful tracks, “Jesus to a Child” and “Fastlove,” both of which entered the top 10 in the United States. Despite this, the sales figures for Older were comparatively modest, leading some to speculate that Michael’s extended absence from the pop music scene contributed to the decline. Nonetheless, he received several accolades that year, including the award for Best British Male at both the BRIT Awards and the MTV Europe Awards.

Personal Life and Controversy

In 1998, Michael made headlines for reasons beyond his musical achievements when he was arrested for lewd conduct in a public restroom in Los Angeles, California. Following this incident, he made a televised appearance to publicly acknowledge his homosexuality, marking his first definitive statement on the matter amidst long-standing speculation about his sexual orientation.

His next musical project, Songs from the Last Century (1999), was a collection of covers that received some favorable reviews; however, it struggled commercially, becoming his lowest-charting album in the United Kingdom. Over the subsequent years, Michael released several singles, including a duet with Whitney Houston in 2000 titled “If I Told You That.”

Michael’s fourth solo album, Patience, was released in 2004. While it did not achieve significant success on the pop charts, it found favor within the dance music community, with tracks like “Flawless” and “Amazing” resonating well with dance music fans. After this release, he hinted at a possible retirement from the music industry, but his planned departure was short-lived. In 2005, A Different Story, a documentary chronicling his life and career, was released.

In February 2006, Michael faced legal issues once again when he was arrested on suspicion of drug-related offenses in London. In a candid statement reported by Rolling Stone, he acknowledged his actions, describing them as “my own stupid fault, as usual.” A few months later, he announced a tour—the first in 15 years—and released Twenty Five, a compilation celebrating his 25 years in music, which included both classic hits and new material.

Comeback

Michael achieved a remarkable resurgence in his career in the United States in 2008. He made several high-profile appearances, released the album Twenty Five domestically, and guest-starred on the television series Eli Stone, portraying a musical guardian angel who performed some of his classic hits. His return to the limelight culminated with a performance on the series finale of the popular musical competition show American Idol before he embarked on a national tour in the summer of 2008.

In April 2011, Michael honored the upcoming marriage of Prince William and Kate Middleton by releasing a cover of Stevie Wonder’s 1972 song “You and I.” Later that year, he began his Symphonica Tour, although it was cut short due to a bout of pneumonia a few months into the series. In 2012, Michael showcased his enduring talent by performing “Freedom! 90” and “White Light” at the closing ceremony of the London 2012 Summer Olympic Games.

In May 2013, at the age of 49, Michael was airlifted to a medical facility in London following an accident on the M1 motorway near St. Albans. He was reportedly found by paramedics at the scene but sustained no serious injuries.

On a personal note, Michael had a significant 13-year relationship with Kenny Goss, which ended in 2009. Shortly after, he entered into a relationship with celebrity hair stylist Fadi Fawaz, which lasted until Michael’s untimely death in 2016. At the time of his passing, he was working on Freedom, a second documentary about his life, which was released posthumously in 2017.

Death

Michael passed away on December 25, 2016, at the age of 53. An autopsy later revealed that he had died from natural causes associated with heart and liver disease. His partner, Fadi Fawaz, discovered him deceased at his home in Oxfordshire on Christmas morning.

“It is with great sadness that we can confirm our beloved son, brother, and friend George passed away peacefully at home over the Christmas period,” stated his publicist in a formal announcement.

In the wake of his death, numerous charities and individuals took to social media to honor Michael’s generous philanthropic efforts. He was known for his discreet contributions, often donating his time and considerable wealth anonymously. Michael preferred to stay out of the spotlight regarding his charitable acts, which included volunteering at a homeless shelter, covering a woman’s fertility treatment costs, and providing substantial tips to help waitresses pay off nursing school debts. He also made significant anonymous donations to charities, such as Childline, a counseling service for children in the U.K. Dame Esther Rantzen, the charity’s founder, remarked in an interview with ITN, “No one outside the charity knew how much he gave to the nation’s most vulnerable children.”