George Michael Dead at 53

RolingStone | George Michael, the soulful British heartthrob who became a star in the Eighties as half of Wham! before earning critical acclaim as a solo artist, has died at his home in Goring in Oxfordshire, England.
The cause of death was heart failure, according to the Hollywood Reporter. Michael was 53.
“Thames Valley Police were called to a property in Goring-on-Thames shortly before 2 p.m. Christmas Day," police said in a statement. "Sadly, a 53-year-old man was confirmed deceased at the scene. At this stage the death is being treated as unexplained but not suspicious.”

"It is with great sadness that we can confirm our beloved son, brother and friend George passed away peacefully at home over the Christmas period," his rep said in a statement. "The family would ask that their privacy be respected at this difficult and emotional time. There will be no further comment at this stage."

Michael sold more than 100 million albums throughout his career. Wham! introduced the young American fans who’d loved Duran Duran to a pop sound more indebted to traditional R&B.

Michael's subsequent solo career won over many of the same critics and listeners who’d previously dismissed him as a mere teenybop idol. But the singer's career would eventually be derailed for half a decade by legal battles with his label, as he also became known for incidents of actual and alleged public sexuality, and, for the past decade, a series of drug busts.

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