Nowadays, Netflix is focusing more and more on documentaries, and some of them have become quite successful. Netflix presents another documentary series, Wham, made by Chris Smith. It tells the story of the duo George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley and how they became pop icons in the 80s. So, let’s talk about George Michael.
Born and raised in East Finchley, Middlesex, George Michael was a British songwriter, singer, and music producer. He was one of the most popular singers of his era, having sold almost 100 to 150 million records worldwide. He was known as a creative force in the music industry, with 10 songs reaching the number one spot on the US Billboard Hot 100.
He was also named the most popular artist on radio by the Radio Academy from 1984 to 2004. He first gained fame from the very popular music band of the 90s, Wham, formed with Andrew Ridgeley in 1981.
The band’s debut album, Fantastic, was released in 1983, and they became the first British band to tour China in 1985. However, after some time, George embarked on his solo journey and released his first solo hit, “Careless Whisper,” in 1984. The song became incredibly popular, reaching the number one spot in 20 countries. His album Faith (1987) remained at the top of the Billboard 200 for almost 12 weeks, and it was awarded Album of the Year at the Grammys in 1988.
Apart from music, George Michael was also very active in the LGBT community and campaigned to spread awareness about HIV/AIDS. He faced allegations and drug use, leading to his arrest in 1998. He held his final tour at Earls Court in London in 2012 and passed away on December 25, 2016, due to heart disease in his hometown of Goring-on-Thames, Oxfordshire.