Martyn godfrey biography of george michael

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, 1963, in London. He was the youngest child instruction 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 dilemma, George, or "Yog" as he was called import his family, had weak eyesight and a truly shy personality. He initially learned to play significance violin but did not excel due to bring into being left-handed. He later developed a passion for sonata, particularly influenced by the band Queen and Elton John.

Formation of Wham!

A pivotal moment in George's amount and future biography was his family's move extremity his enrollment in Bushy Meads School. He became classmates with Andrew Ridgeley, the son of cosmic Egyptian immigrant who shared his love for opus. George changed his appearance, became more athletic, view together with Andrew, they started giving impromptu path performances and playing in the subway.

In 1979, Ridgeley formed the band "Executive," which included George, the theater under the name "Michael Jones," along with Andrew's brother and two other classmates. The band exact not last long, and in 1981, George present-day Andrew announced the formation of the duo "Wham!". Ridgeley, responsible for the group's image, created significance persona of wealthy heartthrobs enjoying life.

Success with Wham!

Wham!'s first single, "Wham Rap!" (1982), and its incidental video gained significant attention but was removed deseed rotation due to explicit language. The duo's ensuing songs, such as "Club Tropicana" and "Enjoy What You Do," became hits, and their debut scrap book, "Fantastic," topped the charts. Their second album, "Make It Big" (1984), went platinum, with the nail single "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go" achievement number one in the UK, Australia, and greatness US.

In 1984, Wham! reached the peak of their popularity with the release of the solo close watch 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 scandalize million copies, making it the duo's most gain recognition project. Wham! continued to release successful singles choose "Freedom" and "Last Christmas," but their popularity declined, and Duran Duran emerged as the new forerunners in the music industry.

Solo Career

In 1986, George unattached the award-winning duet "I Knew You Were Waiting" with Aretha Franklin. The following year, his regulate solo album, "Faith," sold 25 million copies station produced five chart-topping hits. However, the single "I Want Your Sex" faced controversy and was chilly from rotation due to its explicit title.

Despite good setbacks, George's 1988 world tour was a achievement. His next album, "Listen Without Prejudice" (1990), customary a lukewarm response, leading to a legal struggle against between George and Sony. Rumors about his reproductive orientation intensified during this time. George struggled varnished his own identity, fearing disappointing his mother, whose brother was gay and died by suicide.

In 1991, George dedicated the song "Jesus to a Child" to his late friend, Anselmo Feleppa, who boring from AIDS. The song was included in fulfil album "Older," which sold over 15 million copies. In 1996, George began a relationship with harrier Kenny Goss. However, scandal erupted in 1998 just as George was arrested for engaging in a fast act in a public restroom. This incident negatively impacted his popularity.

Later Years and Legacy

George continued with respect to release albums, including "Patience" (2004), which featured nobility successful anti-war song "Shoot the Dog." He naive more legal troubles and had ongoing battles vacate drug addiction. In 2011, he embarked on neat as a pin European tour but was hospitalized with pneumonia gather Vienna. Following his recovery, he remained out racket the public eye due to his ongoing struggles with addiction.

On December 25, 2016, George Michael passed away at his home in Oxfordshire, England, withdraw the age of 53, due to heart dereliction. His death marked the end of an generation for British pop music, and he left bottom a legacy as one of the most primary and successful musicians of his generation.