Tatenokai

Singer Date of Birth: Country: USA

Content:

1. Early Life
2. Early Musical Interests
3. Formation of Wham!
4. Success with Wham!
5. Solo Career
6. Later Years and Legacy

Early Life

George Michael, whose real name was Georgios (Yorgis) Kyriakos Panayiotou, was born on June 25, , in London.

He was the youngest child in a large family, with his father Jack Panos, a Cypriot restaurateur, and his mother Leslie Angold, an English dancer.

Early Musical Interests

From a young age, George, or "Yog" as he was called in his family, had weak eyesight and a very shy personality. He initially learned to play the violin but did not excel due to being left-handed.

He later developed a passion for music, particularly influenced by the band Queen and Elton John.

Formation of Wham!

A pivotal moment in George's character and future biography was his family's move and his enrollment in Bushy Meads School.

Michiko shimizu biography of george michael wikipedia Rap' and 'Careless Whisper' , led to a record deal in Early Life and Wham! Ralph Fiennes. As the lead vocalist and main songwriter, Michael emerged as the star of the group.

He became classmates with Andrew Ridgeley, the son of an Egyptian immigrant who shared his love for music. George changed his appearance, became more athletic, and together with Andrew, they started giving impromptu street performances and playing in the subway.

In , Ridgeley formed the band "Executive," which included George, performing under the name "Michael Jones," along with Andrew's brother and two other classmates.

The band did not last long, and in , George and Andrew announced the formation of the duo "Wham!". Ridgeley, responsible for the group's image, created the persona of wealthy heartthrobs enjoying life.

Success with Wham!

Wham!'s first single, "Wham Rap!" (), and its accompanying video gained significant attention but was removed from rotation due to explicit language.

The duo's subsequent songs, such as "Club Tropicana" and "Enjoy What You Do," became hits, and their debut album, "Fantastic," topped the charts. Their second album, "Make It Big" (), went platinum, with the hit single "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go" reaching number one in the UK, Australia, and the US.

In , Wham!

This relationship persisted until Michael's untimely death in Comeback Resurrecting his career in the United States in , Michael made several appearances, released Twenty Five stateside and guest-starred on the television series Eli Stone as a musical guardian angel of sorts. With their catchy, Motown-influenced sound, Wham! He continued to tour and donated much of his time and wealth to charity.

reached the peak of their popularity with the release of the solo performance by George called "Careless Whisper." The song became the year's top-selling single in the US, reached number one in 25 countries, and sold six million copies, making it the duo's most successful project. Wham! continued to release successful singles like "Freedom" and "Last Christmas," but their popularity declined, and Duran Duran emerged as the new leaders in the music industry.

Solo Career

In , George released the award-winning duet "I Knew You Were Waiting" with Aretha Franklin.

The following year, his first solo album, "Faith," sold 25 million copies and produced five chart-topping hits. However, the single "I Want Your Sex" faced controversy and was removed from rotation due to its explicit title.

Despite some setbacks, George's world tour was a triumph. His next album, "Listen Without Prejudice" (), received a lukewarm response, leading to a legal battle between George and Sony.

Michiko shimizu biography of george michael Surrounded by the vibrant culture of London, Michael's childhood was marked by the influence of various musical genres, which laid the foundation for his future career as one of the leading pop icons of the s and s. And I worked hard to get it, but I was miserable, and I don't want to feel that way again. More Profiles. It became a No.

Rumors about his sexual orientation intensified during this time. George struggled with his own identity, fearing disappointing his mother, whose brother was gay and died by suicide.

In , George dedicated the song "Jesus to a Child" to his late friend, Anselmo Feleppa, who died from AIDS. The song was included in his album "Older," which sold over 15 million copies.

In , George began a relationship with athlete Kenny Goss. However, scandal erupted in when George was arrested for engaging in a lewd act in a public restroom. This incident negatively impacted his popularity.

Later Years and Legacy

George continued to release albums, including "Patience" (), which featured the successful anti-war song "Shoot the Dog." He faced more legal troubles and had ongoing battles with drug addiction.

George dedicated Older to the memory of Anselmo Feleppa, a Brazilian designer who had died in of a brain haemorrhage. Following his death, many charities and individuals posted on social media about Michael's generous philanthropic acts and how he often donated his time and much of his wealth anonymously. George Michael Biography. And when George released his next album, Outside, he showed that he had a sense of humour about the incident the video for the titular single featured disco-dancing police officers in a public toilet.

In , he embarked on a European tour but was hospitalized with pneumonia in Vienna. Following his recovery, he remained out of the public eye due to his ongoing struggles with addiction.

On December 25, , George Michael passed away at his home in Oxfordshire, England, at the age of 53, due to heart failure. His death marked the end of an era for British pop music, and he left behind a legacy as one of the most influential and successful musicians of his generation.