English singer-songwriter George Michael, was BOTD in 1963. Born Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou in London to a Greek-Cypriot immigrant family, he showed an early interest in music, but was discouraged from pursuing a musical career. In 1981, he formed pop band Wham! with his school friend Andrew Ridgeley. Their debut single Young Guns (Go for It!), became a hit and their resulting 1983 album Fantastic went to No 1 in Britain. They became international stars with their 1984 album Make It Big, featuring the upbeat single Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go and the soul ballad Careless Whisper. Michael’s good looks and wholesome heterosexual persona, appealingly showcased in music videos and a world tour, made him a teen sex symbol. He quickly assumed creative control of the band, writing most of their subsequent songs. By 1985, he was a bona fide pop star, performing in Live Aid’s celebrated charity single Do They Know It’s Christmas, duetting Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me with Elton John at the Live Aid benefit concert, and becoming the youngest-ever recipient of the Ivor Novello Award for songwriter of the year. Wham released the album Music from the Edge of Heaven in 1986, scoring another hit with the ballad Last Christmas, before disbanding later that year. Michael launched his solo career with a dazzling cover of I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me), duetting with Aretha Franklin, winning a Grammy Award. His 1989 solo album Faith became an international bestseller, showcasing a grittier blend of pop, funk, gospel, soul and rockabilly and decidedly adult lyrics (including the song I Want Your Sex) and winning the Grammy for Album of the Year. Still more striking was Michael’s abandonment of his teen idol persona, presenting as a hirsute and very horny leatherman. By the 1990s, he expressed dissatisfaction with stardom in songs including Freedom! ’90, and was involved in a lengthy restraint of trade lawsuit with his music label Sony. In 1992, he withheld new songs intended for an album and donated them to the Red Hot + Dance album, a music project to benefit HIV/AIDS research. His 1996 album Older took a more introspective tone, with the songs Jesus to a Child and You Have Been Loved dedicated to his boyfriend Anselmo Feleppa, who had died of an AIDS-related illness in 1993. His career took a spectacular tailspin in 1998, when he was arrested for “disorderly conduct” and committing a “lewd act” in a public toilet in Los Angeles, after responding to the advances of an undercover policeman. The resulting scandal prompted him to come out publicly as gay, shrugging off suggestions that he should feel ashamed of his sexuality or cruising habits. His greatest hits album Ladies and Gentleman followed soon after, featuring the dance single Outside, in which he parodied the prurient interest in his arrest, dressing as a horny policeman for the song’s music video. His cover of Stevie Wonder’s song As, performed with Mary J. Blige, was pulled from the US album version after Blige’s management expressed concern over his arrest; Blige later expressed her public support for Michael. His career went into decline in the 2000s, following a series of arrests and brief imprisonment for drug abuse. He attempted a career comeback with the 2011 Symphonica tour, performing his songs with a symphony orchestra, later released as an album. Michael had long-term relationships with Kenny Goss and Fadi Fawaz, though was open about his pursuit of casual sex, resulting in frequent run-ins with tabloid reporters photographing him at cruising areas near his London home. He died on Christmas Day 2016 of heart and liver failure, aged 53. A committed supporter of HIV/AIDS and LGBTQ causes, much of his charity work and philanthropy was kept out of the spotlight and only reported after his death. Now recognised as one of the bestselling pop artists of all time, he was posthumously inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2023. His career and unapologetic sexuality has inspired musicians including Adele, Sam Smith, Mark Ronson, Adam Lambert and Usher.