{Michael’s manager says the singer’s death in Oxfordshire, England on Sunday was caused by heart failure.}<\/p>\n
British singer George Michael, who became one of the pop idols of the 1980s with Wham! and then forged a career as a successful solo artist, has died at his home in England, aged 53.<\/p>\n
Michael’s manager, Michael Lippman, said on Sunday that the cause of death was heart failure.<\/p>\n
Before Lippmann’s announcement, police had issued a statement calling Michael’s death at his home in Goring, Oxfordshire “unexplained but not suspicious”.<\/p>\n
A post-mortem would be undertaken in due course, the police said.<\/p>\n
Born Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou on June 25, 1963 in London to Greek Cypriot immigrant parents, Michael once played music on the London underground train system before finding fame with Wham!.<\/p>\n
With a school friend, Andrew Ridgeley, he formed Wham! in 1981, a partnership that would produce some of the most memorable pop songs and dance-floor favourites of the 1980s.<\/p>\n
“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 publicist said in a statement.<\/p>\n
“The family would ask that their privacy be respected at this difficult and emotional time. There will be no further comment at this stage,” the statement said.<\/p>\n
Michael sold more than 100 million albums in his career. Fans gathered outside the singer’s home in London to pay their respects on Monday.<\/p>\n
He was due to release a documentary in 2017 after a period of living as a virtual recluse in which he hit the headlines for a series of bizarre incidents linked to drugs.<\/p>\n
Earlier this month, it was also announced that producer and songwriter Naughty Boy, whose real name is Shahid Khan, was working with Michael on a new album for next year.<\/p>\n
Following years of speculation over his sexuality, Michael came out as gay in 1998 after being arrested for committing a “lewd act” in the public toilet of a Los Angeles park.<\/p>\n
He fronted a documentary about HIV to coincide with World Aids Day the year he came out.<\/p>\n
LGBT charity Stonewall reacted to the news of his death in a tweet, saying: “R.I.P. George Michael. You inspired many and your music will live on in the hearts of the community. You will be sorely missed.”<\/p>\n
Michael’s death comes at the end of a year that has seen the passing of several music superstars, including David Bowie, Prince and Leonard Cohen.<\/p>\n
Rick Parfitt, the guitarist of British rock group Status Quo, died on Saturday at 68.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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