“The first sign of real obsession with music was with an old wind-up gramophone that mum had thrown out into the garage. My parents gave me three old 45s - two Supremes records and one Tom Jones record - and I used to come home from school literally every day, go out to the garage, wind this thing up, and play them.”

English singer-songwriter and record producer

George Michael was an English singer-songwriter and record producer. Active in the late 20th and early 21st centuries, he became a pop culture icon and one of the best-selling recording artists of all time. He was widely recognised for his work in songwriting, vocal performance, and visual presentation. His lasting profile is also reflected in honours such as his 2023 induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and recognition by the Radio Academy as the most played artist on British radio from 1984 to 2004.