Pop Star George Michael Dies at 53

British pop legend George Michael is reported to have died in Goring, Oxfordshire on Sunday, December 25. News of Michael's passing was initially confirmed to the media by his publicist, who told BBC News that he "passed away peacefully at home." He was 53 years old.

While the cause of Michael's passing has not been officially made public, the Thames Valley Police characterized the circumstances surrounding his death as "unexplained but not suspicious." Michael's corpse was recovered by emergency personnel, who declared him deceased at the scene shortly before 2 p.m. Michael's manager Michael Lippman is reported to have told the Hollywood Reporter that he died of heart failure.

"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," a statement provided by family read. "The family would ask that their privacy be respected at this difficult and emotional time."

Michael first came to stardom as the frontman of WHAM!, the British boy band whose popularity rivaled Duran Duran and Culture Club in the early 1980's. Outshining his peers as the band's leading composer, producer and singer, Michael would branch off to set upon a solo career when he released his debut in 1987. Faith would snag Album Of The Year at the 1989 Grammy's after landing 8 number one hits on Billboard's Hot 100 and establishing Michael as the first Caucasian to ever top the R&B Albums chart. Michael would go on to sell over 100 million albums, and be recognized as one of the most notable artists of his generation.

Source: washingtontimes.com

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