George Michael

British pop superstar George Michael is a music icon of the 1980s and 1990s. Before becoming an international star, the artist became famous within the group Wham! which he founded in 1981 with his childhood friend Andrew Ridgeley. After a hesitant start, the two young men signed with Columbia Records and released a first single in 1982. That same year, their second single was a hit and reached 3rd place in the British charts. With this success, the group released a third and a fourth single which both entered the American charts. In the summer of 1983, they started a tour in Great Britain following the release of their first album. This was the beginning of success for Wham! and they became internationally acclaimed the following year. Their song "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go" with its dance-pop sounds made generations all over the world dance, but George Michael showed a desire for freedom and it is as a solo performer that he released the song "Careless Whisper" even though he had written it with his friend three years earlier. This ballad, which remains the singer's biggest hit, is a huge commercial success and sells millions of copies. In the following years, Wham! continued to compose big hits and notably the title "I'm Your Man" which finally marked the end of the group. In 1986, George Michael started a solo career with a first album praised by the critics. A success confirmed by the release of a sulfurous title "I Want Your Sex" which finally established his notoriety. After several albums, many collaborations (with Elton John in particular) and tours across the planet, the singer entered into a lawsuit with his record company and which had a big impact on his career. He then devoted his time to various charity projects such as the fight against AIDS. After a difficult period and his coming-out in the early 2000s, George Michael returned to success and regained public recognition, but recurring health problems forced him to slow down until his death in 2016.