Today June 25 is the birthday of George Michael, one of the most successful pop artists of the 80s and 90s. The edit above and his portrait on the musical reference works/birthday calendars below are made by me, Frieke.
George Michael was born as Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou on June 25, 1963, in East Finchley, London. His father, Kyriacos Panayiotou, better known as Jack Panos, was a Greek-Cypriot restaurateur in London. His mother, Lesley Angold Panayiotou, was an English dancer. He had two sisters, Yioda and Melanie. Despite his father's success as an entrepreneur, Michael's upbringing was relatively modest. He attended various schools, including Kingsbury High School, where he met Andrew Ridgeley. This was a defining moment in his life, as their friendship later led to the formation of Wham! From a young age, George Michael was fascinated by music. He began his musical career as a DJ, playing at school parties. Michael's first serious musical contribution was in a ska band called The Executive, together with Andrew Ridgeley and some other friends.
In 1981, George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley founded Wham! They signed a contract with Innervision Records and released their first single, Wham Rap! (Enjoy What You Do), in 1982. Although this single was not initially a great success, the duo broke through with their second single, Young Guns (Go for It!). Wham! achieved international success with hits like Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go, Careless Whisper and Last Christmas, one of the most iconic Christmas songs of all time, written by George Michael and popular each year during the holidays. George Michael wrote and produced many of Wham!'s songs.
In 1987, George Michael began a successful solo career with his debut album Faith. This album was a massive success and included hits such as Faith, Father Figure, One More Try, en I Want Your Sex. The album won multiple Grammy Awards. Michael was known for his versatility and willingness to experiment with different music genres. His second solo album, Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1 (1990), was more introspective and serious in tone. It included hits like Praying for Time en Freedom! '90. He continued to enjoy success with later albums such as Older (1996) and Patience (2004).
George Michael publicly came out as gay in April 1998. This occurred after an incident in which he was arrested for public lewdness in a public restroom in Beverly Hills, California. After his arrest, he gave a candid interview to CNN, in which he confirmed his sexual orientation. In the interview, he spoke about the circumstances of his arrest and the impact it had on his life. Until that moment, Michael had largely kept his private life away from public scrutiny, although there had been long-standing speculations about his sexual orientation. After coming out, he became a prominent and outspoken advocate for LGBTQ+ rights. He often spoke about the challenges and discrimination he and others in the LGBTQ+ community faced, and he used his platform to promote greater awareness and acceptance.
Michael was known for his generosity and support of various charities and organizations. Although he often kept his donations private, some of the well-known charities and organizations he supported included Childline, Nordoff Robbins, and the Elton John AIDS Foundation. Besides these specific organizations, George Michael also made personal donations to individuals and families in need. His philanthropic work spanned a wide range of causes, and he used his wealth and fame to help others, often without public recognition.
George Michael passed away on December 25, 2016, at the age of 53 due to heart failure. His death caused a wave of grief and remembrance worldwide. Michael left behind a lasting legacy, both through his music and his charitable work. With his powerful voice, charismatic stage presence, and ability to blend various music styles, including pop, soul, and R&B, he was one of the greatest pop icons of his time.
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