Singer-songwriter George Michael has passed away, the BBC reports. The British artist known for being one-half of Wham! as well as his own solo career was 53 years old, and “passed away peacefully at home.” “The family would ask that their privacy be respected at this difficult and emotional time,” his publicist said in a statement. “There will be no further comment at this stage.” His longtime manager Michael Lippman has confirmed the cause of death was heart failure, according to the Hollywood Reporter.
Michael and bandmate Andrew Ridgeley formed Wham! in the early 1980s, issuing three studio albums before dissolving the group in 1986. Michael’s best known release, his debut solo album Faith, dominated the charts with six top five singles and has sold over 25 million copies worldwide since its release in 1987. Over the course of his nearly four-decade-long music career, he sold over 100 million albums.
