George Michael was born Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou on 25 June 1963. He was an British singer, songwriter, and record producer who first rose to fame as a member of the music duo Wham! which he established with his school friend Andrew Ridgeley. 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', and albums such as 'Faith' (1987) and 'Listen Wthout Prejudice Vol 1'(1990).
George Michael sold more than 100 million records worldwide with his debut solo album, 'Faith' selling more than 20 million copies. He achieved seven number one singles in the UK including 'Careless Whisper'. He ranks among the best-selling British musc artists of all time and won various awards during his 30-year career, including three Brit Awards.
In 2004, the Radio Academy named Michael the most played artist on British radio during the period 1984–2004. The documentary 'A Different Story' (released in 2005) covered his career and personal life. Michael's first tour in 15 years, the worldwide 25 Live tour, spanned three tours over the course of three years (2006, 2007, and 2008). In the early hours of 25 December 2016, Michael, aged 53, was found dead in bed at his Oxfordshire home.
