As a teenager, George Michael formed the band Wham! with high school friend Andrew Ridgeley.

In 1984, the duo had their first worldwide hit with "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go."

Two years later, Michael went solo, releasing a hit debut album Faith, which has sold more than 25 million copies worldwide.

In 1998, Michael announced that he was gay after being arrested for lewd conduct in a public restroom.

Michael continued to perform and his career had a reboot in the mid-2000s with the release of his greatest hits album Twenty Five.

He continued to tour and donated much of his time and wealth to charity.

Michael died of heart and liver disease on December 25, 2016, in his home in England at the age of 53.