UPDATE: TMZ is reporting that Michael died due to heart failure.
2016 had already been a tough year, given the loss of David Bowie, Prince, Glenn Frey and more. It seems the Grim Reaper’s work before the start of the New Year was not completed, as George Michael 80s co-founder of Wham, has unexpectedly died at the age of 53.
Born Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou in North London, he found fame and fortune as half the team of ‘Wham,’ the 80s super duo with school mate Andrew Ridgeley. ‘Wham’ sold over 100 million records as a duo, George another 25 million as a solo artist in the 90s and 2000s.
George nearly died in 2011 battling pneumonia. There were no rumors of ill health recently, and the cause of death has not yet been revealed. Authorities did indicate however, that there was no suspicion involved in the Christmas Day death of George Michael.
George Michael, the voice of such smash 80s tunes like “Wake Me Up Before You Go Go” and “Everything She Wants,” has passed away at the age of 53.
—
Photo credit: Slavko Sereda / Shutterstock.com