Died On This Date (December 25, 2016) George Michael / British Pop Star
themusicsover George Michael (Born Georgios Panayiotou)
June 25, 1963 – December 25, 2016
As one-half of the pop vocal duo, Wham!, George Michael rose to stardom during the mid-’80s. Formed with schoolmate, Andrew Ridgeley in 1981, Wham! released just three studio albums, but that was enough to sell over 25 million copies during their short run of five years. Born in London, Michael began his musical journey busking Queen songs (and more) on the London Underground. He also worked as a DJ for neighborhood school parties and at local clubs. In 1981, he and Ridgeley formed Wham!, who went on to release several worldwide hits, including “Careless Whisper,” “Freedom,” and “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go.” After parting ways with Ridgeley in 1986, Michael launched an even more successful solo career. His first “solo” single, “I Knew You Were Waiting,” a duet with Aretha Franklin, debuted at #1 in both the US and UK. He followed that with the album Faith in October of 1987. The album sold over 25 million copies and was named Album of The Year at the 1989 Grammy Awards. In all, Michael sold more than 100 million albums during his solo run and won two Grammys along with numerous other accolades. George Michael was just 53 when passed away in his sleep on December 25, 2016. Initial reports point to heart failure as the cause of death.
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Patty Duke was an American stage, film and TV star who is perhaps best remembered for her leading role in the 1960s sitcom, The Patty Duke Show, which originally ran for three seasons on ABC. Prior to that, she won the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her work in The Miracle Worker. At the age of 16, she was, at the time, the youngest to do so. Duke was also a successful recording artist who performed on television numerous times and released six albums. Her hits included, “Don’t Just Stand There” (which reached #8 on the pop charts), “Say Something Funny” (#22), and “Donna Donna.” Patty Duke was 69 when she passed away on March 29, 2016. Cause of death was attributed to sepsis from a ruptured intestine.
George Martin was a classically trained musician, record producer, and talent scout who most famously took a chance on the Beatles after they had been turned down by most other British record labels at the time. What followed was a collaboration that changed not only the musical landscape of the era, but also what would become popular music and pop culture for decades to come. With Martin as producer (and so much more) on the Beatles’ original albums, they scored 30 #1 singles in the UK and 23 in the US – and millions in sales, of course. Of the list of Beatles collaborators who were referred to as “the Fifth Beatle,” it was Martin who actually deserved the title. That alone on a person’s resume is enough to cruise through the rest of his or her life, but not Martin. Over the next six decades, he had a big hand in the success of the likes of Elton John, Dire Straits, Cheap Trick, ELO, and Celine Dion, to name a few. Martin also worked extensively in film, either arranging, scoring or producing. Two of the most famous songs he produced for films were Shirley Bassey‘s “Goldfinger” for Paul McCartney‘s “Live and Let Die” from the James Bond movies of the same name. He’s been recognized with six Grammys, an Academy Award, and countless other accolades. George Martin was 90 when he died in his sleep on March 8, 2016.