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George Michael
From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist
George Michael, born Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou on 25 June 1963 in East Finchley, was an English singer, songwriter and producer. He died on Christmas Day 2016 of heart disease. In 1981 he formed the pop duo Wham! with Andrew Ridgeley. In 1984 he took part in Band Aid's Do They Know It's Christmas? and in 1985 he performed at Live Aid. His first solo album Faith from 1987 won a Grammy for Album of the Year. Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1 from 1990 followed, then Older from 1996, Songs from the Last Century from 1999 and Patience from 2004.
Music and breakthrough
Michael had ten number 1 hits on the American Billboard Hot 100 and thirteen on the British chart. His best-known songs include Careless Whisper, A Different Corner, Faith, Father Figure, One More Try, Freedom! '90, Jesus to a Child and Fastlove. The Radio Academy named him the most-played artist on British radio from 1984 to 2004. He was praised for his songwriting, his singing and his visual presentation.
Influence
In 1998 he came out openly as gay, and later he campaigned for LGBTQ rights and for charities fighting HIV and AIDS. In 2006 he began the 25 Live tour, which lasted three years, and in 2012 he gave his last concert at Earls Court in London. In 2023 the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inducted him.
Listening
Discography
Studio albums
- 1987Faith
- 1990Listen Without Prejudice, Volume 1
- 1996Older
- 1999Songs From the Last Century
- 2004Patience
- 2019Last Christmas: The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (soundtrack)