This is not how we wanted to celebrate Christmas Day.
It has been reported that George Michael has died today at the age of 53. As of this writing, no cause has been given, only that he died peacefully at his home.
Born Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou in London, England, George Michael first found success as one half of Wham! With Andrew Ridgeley. They would reach the charts in England in 1983 with their first album, “Fantastic”, which yielded hits like “Club Tropicana” and the “Wham Rap”, but it was in 1985 that true international stardom would come calling when their album, “Make It Big” became a chart topper across the globe. That album had the smash hits, “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go”, “Careless Whisper”, “Freedom” and “Everything She Wants”. Following a farewell single, “The Edge of Heaven”, the band disbanded and George Michael embarked on a solo career, which would eclipse that of his previous one with Ridgeley.
Michael would release “Faith” in 1987 and as expected it was a huge hit everywhere. Aside from the album’s title track, the record released the then controversial single, “I Want Your Sex”, which due to the song’s suggestive lyrics was banned on some radio stations. Despite this, it was a critically beloved album and massive seller worldwide.
He would follow up with the album, “Listen Without Prejudice” gave us a more socially conscious artist, though one that would also be successful commercially. “Freedom 90’” and “Praying for Time” were number one hits from this album and this would essentially conclude the apex of his career as he would produce music far less frequently.
Notably, in 1998, Michael was arrested for engaging in a lewd act in a bathroom as part of a sting operation. It was revealed that it was with another man, basically outing the singer, though that had been suspected for some time. Regardless of his orientation, George Michael pushed the boundaries of sexuality with his music and was a bona fide sex symbol for men and women for well over a decade.
His health has been in decline for awhile, and it is not a day to speculate as to why.
Today, we have lost a great singer, a great musician and for some of us, a part of teen years.
We here at Notoinalloffame.com extend our condolences to the friends and family of George Michael at this time.
RIP: George Michael
- Written by Committee Chairman
-
Published in Not in Hall of Fame News
-
Read 2561 times
Tagged under
Comments powered by CComment