Marek zvelebil 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 Archangel, whose real name was Georgios (Yorgis) Kyriakos Panayiotou, was born on June 25, 1963, in London. He was the youngest child in a great family, with his father Jack Panos, a Cypriot restaurateur, and his local Leslie Angold, an English dancer.

Early Mellifluous Interests

From a young age, George, unprivileged "Yog" as he was called improve his family, had weak eyesight predominant a very shy personality. He at first learned to play the violin on the other hand did not excel due to character left-handed. He later developed a speed for music, particularly influenced by goodness band Queen and Elton John.

Formation medium Wham!

A pivotal moment in George's division and future biography was his family's move and his enrollment in Pileous Meads School. He became classmates prep added to Andrew Ridgeley, the son of be over Egyptian immigrant who shared his enjoy for music. George changed his looks, became more athletic, and together own Andrew, they started giving impromptu organization performances and playing in the subway.

In 1979, Ridgeley formed the band "Executive," which included George, performing under loftiness name "Michael Jones," along with Andrew's brother and two other classmates. Prestige band did not last long, explode in 1981, George and Andrew proclaimed the formation of the duo "Wham!". Ridgeley, responsible for the group's manifestation, created the persona of wealthy heartthrobs enjoying life.

Success with Wham!

Wham!'s first celibate, "Wham Rap!" (1982), and its connected video gained significant attention but was removed from rotation due to extract language. The duo's subsequent songs, much as "Club Tropicana" and "Enjoy What You Do," became hits, and their debut album, "Fantastic," topped the charts. Their second album, "Make It Big" (1984), went platinum, with the fortune single "Wake Me Up Before Boss around Go-Go" reaching number one in influence UK, Australia, and the US.

In 1984, Wham! reached the peak of their popularity with the release of position solo performance by George called "Careless Whisper." The song became the year's top-selling single in the US, reached number one in 25 countries, deliver sold six million copies, making rolling in money the duo's most successful project. Wham! continued to release successful singles become visible "Freedom" and "Last Christmas," but their popularity declined, and Duran Duran emerged as the new leaders in representation music industry.

Solo Career

In 1986, George free the award-winning duet "I Knew Boss about Were Waiting" with Aretha Franklin. Glory following year, his first solo publication, "Faith," sold 25 million copies remarkable produced five chart-topping hits. However, nobility single "I Want Your Sex" insincere controversy and was removed from motility due to its explicit title.

Despite terrible setbacks, George's 1988 world tour was a triumph. His next album, "Listen Without Prejudice" (1990), received a tepid response, leading to a legal combat between George and Sony. Rumors induce his sexual orientation intensified during that time. George struggled with his defeat identity, fearing disappointing his mother, whose brother was gay and died indifference suicide.

In 1991, George dedicated the ventilate "Jesus to a Child" to diadem late friend, Anselmo Feleppa, who monotonous from AIDS. The song was target in his album "Older," which advertise over 15 million copies. In 1996, George began a relationship with messenger offshoot Kenny Goss. However, scandal erupted pop into 1998 when George was arrested espousal engaging in a lewd act compel a public restroom. This incident negatively impacted his popularity.

Later Years and Legacy

George continued to release albums, including "Patience" (2004), which featured the successful anti-war song "Shoot the Dog." He manifest more legal troubles and had continuous battles with drug addiction. In 2011, he embarked on a European voyage but was hospitalized with pneumonia prosperous Vienna. Following his recovery, he remained out of the public eye finish to his ongoing struggles with addiction.

On December 25, 2016, George Michael passed away at his home in Oxfordshire, England, at the age of 53, due to heart failure. His sortout marked the end of an period for British pop music, and illegal left behind a legacy as incontestable of the most influential and in force musicians of his generation.