George Michael, R.I.P.

The cruelty of 2016 did not take a pause on Christmas as it has claimed George Michael. The cause of death is being called heart failure. One half of the British pop duo Wham! before becoming a successful solo artist, Michael was only 53.

Wham! became an international sensation in 1984 with hits like "Wake Me Up Before You Go Go", "Careless Whisper", "Freedom" & "Last Christmas" - the latter of which became a holiday standard. In light of his death coming on Christmas Day gives the song a much sadder and darker connotation.

Michael would part company with Andrew Ridgeley and would release Faith in 1987. It spawned hits like "I Want Your Sex" followed by four number one hits - "Faith", "Father Figure", "One More Try" and "Monkey". In 1990, Michael would release Listen Without Prejudice, Volume 1 which spawned the number one hit "Praying for Time". His last number one hit in the U.S. came in 1993 duetting with Elton John on a remake of "Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me".

While Michael's chart success diminished in North America, he continued to be a chart topper in his native UK well into 1990's and early 2000's.

In recent years, Michael had serious health problems surviving a bout with pneumonia in 2011 and a head injury following a car accident in 2013. He also had a number of run ins with the law regarding drug use over the past decade and there was some controversy over his sexual orientation.

Evidently plans were in the works for a new album to be released in 2017. Michael released his last album Symphonica in 2014 which was largely a live album but featured a handful of new songs. He had not performed in concert for more than four years.

I'll leave you with George Michael at the height of his power with perhaps his most poignant song "Father Figure".