George Michael Biography Quotes 20 Report mistakes

Early Life
George Michael was born Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou on June 25, 1963, in East Finchley, London, to Kyriacos "Jack" Panayiotou, a Greek Cypriot restaurateur, and Lesley Angold, an English dancer. He grew up in North London, later moving to Bushey in Hertfordshire. Music became central early on; he was drawn to radio pop, soul, and Motown, and taught himself to craft melodies and harmonies. At Bushey Meads School he met Andrew Ridgeley, a friendship that would shape both young men. With Ridgeley and schoolmates he first tried a ska-influenced project, the Executive, before focusing their talents on sleek pop songwriting and performance.

Wham! and Breakthrough
Michael and Ridgeley formed Wham! in 1981, a duo that fused effervescent hooks with a sharp visual identity suited to the music video age. Their debut album, "Fantastic" (1983), brought UK success, while "Make It Big" (1984) turned them into international stars. Singles like "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go", "Freedom", "Everything She Wants", and the perennial "Last Christmas" became defining pop records of the decade. On stage and in videos, the charisma of Michael and the camaraderie with Ridgeley were amplified by the presence of backing vocalists Pepsi DeMacque and Shirlie Holliman, who contributed to the group's buoyant image. Michael was already emerging as a writer-producer with an ear for classic soul, as heard in "Careless Whisper", released in 1984 and credited in different markets either to him solo or to Wham! featuring George Michael. As Wham! concluded with a 1986 farewell at Wembley, they had achieved a rare feat for a British act: a massive US presence and, notably, a landmark visit to China as one of the first Western pop groups to play there.

Solo Ascent and Global Stardom
Stepping out alone, Michael widened his palette. A duet with Aretha Franklin, "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)" (1987), hit number one on both sides of the Atlantic, signaling his arrival as a solo star. His debut solo album "Faith" (1987), largely self-written and produced, blended rockabilly guitar with R&B, gospel-tinged balladry, and club sheen. It yielded a string of international hits, including "Faith", "Father Figure", "One More Try", "Monkey", and the frank "I Want Your Sex". "Faith" dominated charts and tours and earned top industry honors, including the Grammy for Album of the Year, cementing his status as one of the defining pop auteurs of the era. He also proved a versatile duet partner, later scoring with Elton John on the live rendition of "Dont Let the Sun Go Down on Me".

Artistry, Image, and Independence
With "Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1" (1990), Michael pivoted from overt celebrity to the music itself. He declined to appear in videos and promotion, emphasizing songwriting and vocals over image. "Praying for Time" and "Freedom! 90" revealed a more contemplative artist, wary of fame's distortions but confident in craft. In the "Freedom! 90" video, he ceded the screen to a cast of supermodels, a conceptual gesture that underscored his desire to redefine pop stardom on his own terms. His performance with the surviving members of Queen at the 1992 Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert, especially on "Somebody to Love", showcased his vocal power and reverence for his influences.

Labels, Lawsuits, and Creative Renewal
Tensions with his record label culminated in a high-profile legal battle in the early 1990s over artistic freedom and control. Though he did not prevail in court, the dispute sharpened his determination to set his own pace and partnerships. He returned with "Older" (1996), a sophisticated, jazz- and soul-inflected album that reflected personal losses and renewed focus. The set produced hits such as "Jesus to a Child" and "Fastlove", and earned widespread acclaim for its maturity. He followed with the covers collection "Songs from the Last Century" (1999), then the originals album "Patience" (2004), which delivered "Amazing" among other hits. He later explored orchestral settings on the "Symphonica" project, working in concert halls with a full ensemble; the "Symphonica" album, completed with producer Phil Ramone and released in 2014, reached number one in the UK.

Personal Life and Relationships
Michael guarded his privacy for much of his early fame. In the early 1990s he began a relationship with Anselmo Feleppa, a Brazilian dress designer whose death from an AIDS-related illness left a profound mark on him and informed later work. For years afterward he was in a long-term, often close but sometimes tumultuous partnership with art dealer Kenny Goss; their bond included co-founding the Goss-Michael Foundation in Dallas to support contemporary art. Near the end of his life he was associated with Fadi Fawaz. Friends and collaborators remained important constants: lifelong confidant David Austin worked with him across decades, while peers such as Elton John and Aretha Franklin valued his musicality and generosity.

Public Challenges and Resilience
In 1998, after a widely publicized arrest in Beverly Hills, Michael publicly acknowledged he was gay, responding with humor and candor in the single "Outside", which turned scandal into a statement of pride and defiance. The 2000s brought additional troubles, including driving offenses and a brief prison sentence in 2010, but he repeatedly returned to the studio and stage. He battled serious illness in 2011, when pneumonia led to hospitalization in Vienna; he later thanked the medical staff and resumed performing, including a special concert for healthcare workers.

Touring and Stagecraft
A consummate live performer, Michael mounted 25 Live from 2006 to 2008, his first major tour in years, drawing on the breadth of the Wham! and solo catalogs. In June 2007 he became the first artist to play the newly rebuilt Wembley Stadium, a symbolic homecoming for a British pop figure who had once said goodbye to Wham! on that stage's earlier incarnation. The orchestral Symphonica tour further highlighted his interpretive finesse, reimagining hits and standards with elegance.

Philanthropy
Beyond high-profile charity singles like Band Aid, Michael was a discreet philanthropist. He made substantial, often anonymous donations to causes including HIV/AIDS work, children's services, and support for the sick and vulnerable. Organizations such as the Terrence Higgins Trust and Childline publicly acknowledged his contributions after his death, reflecting a long-standing pattern of quiet giving. Royalties from selected songs and proceeds from performances were directed to charities over the years, and he supported young artists through the foundation he launched with Kenny Goss.

Final Years and Death
In his last years, Michael curated his legacy, working on archival releases and a documentary with David Austin that revisited his career with frankness about creativity, love, and control. On December 25, 2016, he died at his home in Goring-on-Thames, Oxfordshire. A coroner later cited dilated cardiomyopathy with myocarditis and fatty liver as the causes, and his passing was recorded as due to natural causes. Fadi Fawaz was present around the time of his death, which stunned fans and peers worldwide.

Legacy
George Michael sold well over 100 million records as both a solo artist and as part of Wham!, placing him among the most successful British musicians of his generation. He earned major honors, including Grammy Awards and BRIT Awards, and remained a radio mainstay through songs that marry melodic immediacy with vocal warmth and emotional candor. His duets with Aretha Franklin and Elton John, his tribute to Freddie Mercury, and his partnership with Andrew Ridgeley in Wham! reflect the breadth of his musical relationships. For LGBTQ audiences, his post-1998 openness and refusal to be shamed formed a meaningful chapter in pop culture's evolving conversation about identity. Posthumously, his stature has only grown, culminating in induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2023. From the exuberance of "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go" to the reflective grace of "Praying for Time", and the intimate solace of "Jesus to a Child", he left a catalog that continues to accompany celebrations, grief, and everything in between. His combination of songwriting craft, vocal mastery, and generous spirit secured a singular place in modern music.

Our collection contains 20 quotes who is written by George, under the main topics: Witty One-Liners - Truth - Music - Love - Freedom.

Other people realated to George: Guy Ritchie (Director), Robbie Williams (Musician), George M. Cohan (Actor), Tony Scott (Director), Micky Dolenz (Actor), Fred Durst (Musician), Matt Lucas (Actor)