As Christmas revellers around the world crooned ‘Last Christmas’ to the beats of the festive season, the news that the singer who gave the world that unforgettable song, way back in 1984, had died in his sleep on Christmas day, sent tidal waves of grief all around.
George Michael had died of heart failure on December 25, 2016; he was found dead at his home in Oxfordshire on Christmas morning, by his partner. A statement by his publicist read: “It is with great sadness that we can confirm our beloved son, brother and friend George passed away peacefully at home over the Christmas period.” His coterie of friends, including Elton John, Bob Geldof, Andrew Ridgeley, Aretha Franklin, Mariah Carey, Kate Moss, Naomi Campbell, and Cindy Crawford are now planning a tribute to the singer, who ruled the music world in the 80s and 90s.
George Michael was known for his philanthropic spirit and had established an endearing connect with his musical genius as well as his little acts of charity. He was, however, private in his charity ventures, whether it was volunteering at a homeless shelter, paying for a woman’s fertility treatments or anonymously donating millions of dollars to charities like the Childline, a counselling service for children in the U.K.
Born Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou, on 25 June 1963, in East Finchley, London, Michael earned recognition, incredibly early on, as a singer, songwriter, and record producer. He rose to fame as a member of the music duo Wham! and is best known for his hit singles such as ‘Last Christmas’ and ‘Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go’. He was a teenager when he formed band Wham! with his high school friend Andrew Ridgeley; the duo went on to create their first major hit ‘Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go’ in 1984. However, two years later, Michael went solo and released his hit debut album ‘Faith’, which has sold more than 25 million copies worldwide. His other hit album ‘Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1’ was released in 1990.
He has sold more than 100 million records worldwide. To his credit are seven number one singles in the UK and eight number one hits on the Billboard Hot 100 in the US, including ‘Careless Whispers’ and ‘Freedom! ‘90’. He ranks among the best-selling British acts of all time and as the 40th-most successful artist ever by Billboard magazine.
He has won, among other awards, three Brit Awards, four MTV Video Music Awards, four Ivor Novello Awards, three American Music Awards, and two Grammy Awards from eight nominations.
Michael believed in music completely. ‘I still believe that music is one of the greatest gifts that God gave to man,’ he is quoted to have said. It was a tribute to his genius that in 2004 the Radio Academy named him the most played artist on British radio between 1984 and 2004.
He was outspoken and stood by his beliefs, using music as a platform to discuss issues that concerned him personally as well as those that affected the world at large. In a noticeably short span of time, he achieved what few even fail to conceive. And he was aware of that. As he had said: “I’ve achieved what every artist wants, which is that some of their work will outlive them.”
His legacy of music and his philanthropy will live on forever!