George Michael

Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou. Born 25 June 1963 in East Finchley, north London. One of the most gifted vocalists and songwriters British pop has ever produced. I grew up with George Michael on the radio, on the jukebox in the pub, on mixtapes on the way to the caravan. His voice was everythin' — rich, soulful tenor capable of tenderness and power in equal measure.

Wham! with Andrew Ridgeley embodied the bright carefree energy of the mid-80s. Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go, Freedom, I'm Your Man. Last Christmas — written by George — has become an inescapable seasonal classic. Charted every year without fail. Finally reached number one in the UK for the first time in January 2021, 37 years after its original release. That's longevity.

But George had grander ambitions. Faith (87) was a bold artistic statement. Pop, soul, funk, and R&B fused into a cohesive whole. The title track — that guitar riff, the leather jacket, the mirrored sunglasses — defined late-80s pop culture. Careless Whisper, released in 84 while still part of Wham!, remains one of the most recognisable saxophone hooks in music history. Father Figure, One More Try, Kissin' a Fool revealed a more introspective mature songwriter.

Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1 (90) was a deliberate move away from the glossy pop image. Prayin' for Time, a socially conscious ballad. Freedom '90 with a groundbreakin' video featurin' supermodels lip-syncin' the lyrics — an anthem of liberation and self-reinvention. Critical acclaim. Since recognised as a masterpiece.

Older (96) led by the elegiac Jesus to a Child demonstrated his maturity. But the 90s and 2000s were marked by personal turmoil — a protracted legal battle with Sony, his mother's death, the loss of his partner Anselmo Feleppa to AIDS-related illness. In 98, he was arrested in Beverly Hills, leadin' to his public comin' out as a gay man. Over 100 million records sold worldwide. Two Grammys. Three Brits. An Ivor Novello.

George died peacefully at home in Goring-on-Thames on Christmas Day 2016. Aged 53. His death prompted an outpouring of grief from fans and fellow musicians worldwide. He left a legacy of extraordinary musical craftsmanship — songs that blend emotional vulnerability with pop perfection. One of the greatest British pop artists ever to grace a recordin' studio.