Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou (Γεώργιος Κυριάκος Παναγιώτου) was born on the 25th of June 1963 and sadly passed away on Christmas Day in 2016 at the age of 53.
The popular and talented artist known professionally as George Michael, was a singer, songwriter, record producer, and philanthropist who rose to fame as a member of the music duo Wham!
Up to the time of his death, Michael sold more than 115 million records worldwide, making him one of the best selling music artists of all time.
His breakthrough duo Wham! sold 28 million records between 1982 and 1986, and his debut solo album Faith sold more than 20 million copies worldwide.
He was best known for his work in the 1980s and 1990s, including hit singles such as “Wake me Up Before you Go Go” and “Last Christmas.”
He achieved seven number one songs on the UK Singles Chart and eight number one songs on the US Billboard Hot 100. He was widely known for his success in the 1980s and 1990s, including Wham! singles such as “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go” and “Last Christmas” and solo singles such as “Careless Whisper” and “Faith”.
Michael formed the duo Wham! with Andrew Ridgeley in 1981. The band’s first two albums, Fantastic (1983) and Make It Big (1984), reached number one on the UK Albums Chart and the US Billboard 200. Michael’s first solo single “Careless Whisper” reached number one in over 20 countries, including the UK and US.
Michael’s debut solo album Faith was released in 1987, topping the UK Albums Chart, and staying at number one on the Billboard 200 for 12 weeks. Four singles from the album, “Faith”, “Father Figure”, “One More Try”, and “Monkey” reached number one on the BillboardHot 100. It won Album of the Year at the 31st Grammy Awards. Three years after the release of Faith, Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1 (1990) was released which included the Billboard Hot 100 number one “Praying for Time”. “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me”, a 1991 duet with Elton John, was also a transatlantic number one.
He also ranks among the best selling British acts of all time.
George Michael died at the age of 53 of natural causes resulting from heart and liver problems.
George Michael’s family shares message for fans
