Adenike ogungbe biography of george michael

Trying to shed his teen heartthrob image, he went for an edgier look, often sporting a leather jacket and a few days' worth of stubble. Musically, he took a funkier direction as well with the album. Driven in part by the number one title track, the recording reached the top of the album charts. Despite the censorship, Faith went on to sell more than 25 million copies worldwide and won the Grammy Award for Album of the Year in Continuing his musical evolution, Michael incorporated soulful and jazz elements into his songs on Listen Without Prejudice, Vol.

The album featured a few hits, including "Praying for Time. Michael became involved in a legal battle with his recording company Sony. Feeling that they had failed to properly promote the record, he wanted to end his recording contract. The conflict dragged on for several years, during which time Michael recorded only a few singles. It became a No.

Finally free from his contract with Sony, Michael released the album Older in Two tracks, "Jesus to a Child" and "Fastlove," broke into the top 10 in the United States as did the album.

Adenike ogungbe biography of george michael

Still, the sales for the recording paled in comparison to his earlier efforts with some attributing this decline to Michael's time away from the pop music scene. Personal Life and Controversy In , Michael made headlines, though this time not for his music. He was arrested for lewd conduct in a men's room at a public park in Los Angeles, California.

After the incident, Michael made a television appearance in which he acknowledged that he was homosexual. His next album, "Listen Without Prejudice" , received a lukewarm response, leading to a legal battle between George and Sony. Rumors about his sexual orientation intensified during this time. George struggled with his own identity, fearing disappointing his mother, whose brother was gay and died by suicide.

The song was included in his album "Older," which sold over 15 million copies. In , George began a relationship with athlete Kenny Goss. However, scandal erupted in when George was arrested for engaging in a lewd act in a public restroom. This incident negatively impacted his popularity. It is one of the best-selling albums of all time , having sold over 25 million copies worldwide.

Michael became the best-selling music artist of , and Faith was awarded Album of the Year at the Grammy Awards. Michael's second solo album, Listen Without Prejudice Vol. His personal life, drug use, and legal troubles made headlines following an arrest for public lewdness in and multiple drug-related offences. The documentary A Different Story covered his career and personal life.

His 25 Live tour spanned three tours from to In Michael fell into a coma during a bout with pneumonia, but recovered. He performed his final concert at London's Earls Court in Michael died of heart disease on Christmas Day in , at his home in Goring-on-Thames , Oxfordshire. The Radio Academy named him the most played artist on British radio during the period — He was the only son and the youngest child of three.

The two had the same career ambition of being musicians. Main article: Wham! Michael left and Andrew Ridgeley as Wham! On the cusp of fame, he decided to legally change his name to the more accessible George Michael. Their second album, Make It Big , reached No. Chinese television presenter Kan Lijun, who was the on-stage host, spoke of Wham!

All the young people were amazed and everybody was tapping their feet. Of course the police weren't happy and they were scared there would be riots. According to Napier-Bell, Michael tried to get the crowd to clap along to "Club Tropicana", but "they hadn't a clue — they thought he wanted applause and politely gave it", before adding that some Chinese did eventually "get the hang of clapping on the beat.

The duo officially separated in , after releasing a farewell single, " The Edge of Heaven " and a farewell compilation, The Final their third album Music from the Edge of Heaven was released in North America and Japan , plus a sell-out concert at Wembley Stadium that included the world premiere of the China film. The single was also the first Michael had recorded as a solo artist which he had not written himself.

The co-writer, Simon Climie , was unknown at the time; he later had success as a performer with the band Climie Fisher in The first single released from the album was " I Want Your Sex ", in mid Throughout his life, he quietly donated substantial sums to various charities, often remaining anonymous in his generosity. He was particularly passionate about causes related to children and young people, contributing millions to organizations like Childline, a counseling service for children in the U.

Michael's commitment to helping vulnerable communities made a lasting impact, and many were unaware of the extent of his contributions until after his passing. Michael often used his platform to raise awareness about social issues, emphasizing the importance of giving back and uplifting those in need. His philanthropic legacy continues to inspire both fans and fellow musicians alike.

Personal Life: Partner and Relationships George Michael's personal life was marked by significant relationships that influenced both his private and public persona. He was in a long-term relationship with American businessman Kenny Goss for 13 years, which ended in Their relationship was often in the spotlight, and Michael spoke openly about the impact Goss had on his life and artistry.

Following his split from Goss, Michael began a relationship with celebrity hairstylist Fadi Fawaz, a connection that became increasingly public. This relationship persisted until Michael's untimely death in Despite the media attention surrounding his romantic life, Michael was known for his desire to maintain privacy.