George Michael
George Michael (born 1963) is a musician, singer, songwriter, and record producer. He rose to fame in the 1980s when he formed the pop duo Wham! with his school friend, Andrew Ridgeley. His first solo single, "Careless Whisper", was released in 1984 and sold about six million copies worldwide.[1]
Michael was born Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou (Greek: Γεώργιος Κυριάκος Παναγιώτου) in East Finchley, North London].[2][3] His father was originally from Cyprus.[4] The family later moved to Radlett, Hertfordshire and George went to school in Bushey.[5]
As one of the world's best-selling music artists, Michael has sold more than 100 million records worldwide as of 2010.[7] His 1987 debut solo album, Faith]], has sold more than 20 million copies worldwide.[8] Michael has garnered seven number one singles in the UK and eight in the USA.
In 2008, Billboard magazine ranked Michael the 40th most successful artist on the Billboard Hot 100 Top All-Time Artists list.[9]
Michael has won numerous music awards throughout his 30-year career.
In 2004, the Radio Academy named Michael as the most played artist on British radio between the period of 1984–2004.[10] The documentary A Different Story was released in 2005; it covered his personal life and professional career.[11]
References
- ↑ http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=3051 Songfacts "Careless Whisper by Wham!"
- ↑ Biography George Michael: The Making of a Superstar Bruce Dessau, Sidgwick & Jackson, London 1989
- ↑ http://www.georgemichael.com/index.php?module=history%7Carchiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20080913013021/http://www.georgemichael.com/index.php?module=history%7Carchivedate=2008-09-13 "George Michael-The history" Twentyfive Live LLP. & Signatures Network|accessdate=5 February 2010}}
- ↑ http://www.femail.com.au/snapshotgeorgemichael.htm |title=George Michael – Star Snapshot|publisher=Femail.com.au|date=27 April 2009|accessdate=27 April 2009}}
- ↑ A Different Story; George Michael Biographical DVD
- ↑ http://www.advocate.com/issue_story_ektid17437.asp |title=George Michael: Is it time the English were more afraid of God? |publisher=Advocate.com |date=21 June 2005 |accessdate=27 April 2009 |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20090222002814/http://www.advocate.com/issue_story_ektid17437.asp |archivedate=22 February 2009}}
- ↑ http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7449964.stm |title=Michael seeking 'a quieter life'|publisher=BBC News |date= 12 June 2008|accessdate=5 October 2011}}
- ↑ http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-11302224 | work=BBC News | title=George Michael: A colourful life | date=14 September 2010
- ↑ http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/specials/hot100/charts/top100-artists-40.shtml The Billboard Hot 100 All-Time Top Artists (40–21)] Billboard; Retrieved 18 February 2011
- ↑ http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/3666541.stm George Michael dominates airwaves BBC News, 28 April 2004
- ↑ http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/4271843.stm%7Cwork=BBC News |title=Michael film signals 'retirement'|date=16 February 2005|accessdate=3 May 2010
