In Memoriam
George Michael
June 25, 1963 – December 25, 2016 · aged 53
Pop · R&B · Soul
Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou, known globally as George Michael, was a titan of 1980s and 90s pop who possessed one of the purest, most soulful voices of his generation. Born in London in 1963, he first achieved massive teen-idol success as one half of the buoyant pop duo Wham!. However, he quickly proved himself to be a brilliant, serious songwriter and producer with his 1987 solo debut 'Faith,' a colossal smash that effortlessly blended funk, R&B, and rockabilly. He was one of the few white artists to genuinely master blue-eyed soul, earning immense respect across the industry. Later in his career, he became a trailblazing LGBTQ+ icon and a remarkably generous, often anonymous philanthropist. His life was not without intense media scrutiny and personal struggles, but his vocal talent remained undeniable. In a poetic, albeit heartbreaking twist of fate, the singer who wrote 'Last Christmas' passed away from heart disease on Christmas Day, December 25, 2016, at the age of 53.
Milestones
Faith, Careless Whisper, Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go
Chart legacy
- 1985: Careless Whisper (US #1)
- 1986: A Different Corner (UK #14), A Different Corner (DE #36), Careless Whisper (UK #36)
- 1987: Faith (UK #17), I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me) (UK #18), I Want Your Sex (US #24), I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me) (DE #30), I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me) (US #36), Faith (DE #43), I Want Your Sex (DE #46)
- 1988: Faith (US #1), One More Try (US #11), Father Figure (US #27)
- 1991: Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me (UK #13), Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me (DE #37)
- 1992: Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me (UK #9)
- 1993: Somebody to Love (UK #21)
- 1996: Fastlove (UK #22), Jesus to a Child (UK #24), Fastlove (DE #29), Jesus to a Child (DE #43), Fastlove (US #46)
- 1998: Outside (UK #16)
- 1999: As (UK #48)
Also remembered in 2016
- David Bowie (1947–2016)
- Leonard Cohen (1934–2016)
- Maurice White (1941–2016)
- Prince (1958–2016)