Singer George Michael has died at the age of 53 years

• Singer George Michael has died at the age of 53

George Michael has died aged 53 at his home in Goring, Oxfordshire, BBC informs. The British singer, who began a music career in the group Wham! in 1980, it gained popularity as a solo artist.

County police Thames Valley reported that he had died for unknown reasons, but we know that it was not accompanied by suspicious circumstances. Former colleague Michael Andrew Ridgeley in the group wrote on Twitter, that his heart is broken because of the loss of his beloved friend. "I, his family, his friends, the music world, the world in general. Love forever ", - the musician added.

Singer George Michael has died at the age of 53 years

George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley during a tour group Wham! in Japan, 1985.

The incident spokesman George Michael. "With great regret to inform you that our beloved son, brother and friend George died peacefully at home during the Christmas holidays. The family asks to respect their right to privacy during this difficult and emotionally charged time. At this stage, no further comment is not followed, "- said in a statement about George Michael's death.

Sir Elton John, with whom George Michael was friendly, laid out in their joint Instagram photo and wrote: "I am in deep shock. I lost a dear friend, the kindest, the most noble soul and a wonderful artist. My heart - with his family and all his fans. "

Presentation of the album the group Wham! Make It Big and photo shoot with the band members George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley in May 1984, when the song Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go topped the charts. According to police, an ambulance arrived at the house in Goring at 13:42 GMT on 25th December. It is reported that there will be an autopsy. Mourners have begun to leave at the door of the house of George Michael wreaths and roses.

George Michael at the courthouse 18 October 1993.

George Michael, whose real name is - Yorgos Kyriakos Panayiotou was born in London on June 25, 1963. During his career, which lasted for about forty years, he has sold over 100 million albums worldwide. The singer became famous as part of the duo Wham !, formed with high school friend Andrew Ridgeley, leading the four hits UK. In 1987, George Michael released a solo album, Faith, which earned him an incredible success. The following album, Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1, was sold in the UK is even more successful than the Faith, but the singer lost the court the Sony record label, against which filed a lawsuit, did not agree with the way the company presented the album on the market.

The concert in Glasgow, September 23, 2012.

Beautiful voice and good looks made George Michael's favorite live concerts and festivals, but sometimes his fascination with drugs and problems with the police threatened to overshadow the musical talent.

Concert at the Symphonica Tour tour in Paris, September 9, 2012.

As part of his solo career, George Michael is still seven times headed the British charts with songs such as Careless Whisper and Fastlove, collaborated with major artists such as Aretha Franklin and Elton John, and has won two "Grammy" award three Brit Awards.

Concert at the Symphonica Tour tour in Paris, September 9, 2012. For years, George Michael hid his sexual orientation, but in 1998, admitted that he was gay after he was arrested in a public toilet in Beverly Hills for illegal actions.

June 27, 2012 on the set of the video White Light, which also starred British supermodel Kate Moss.

Since the mid-2000s, George Michael has become is in the headlines for unpleasant reasons. In October 2006, he pleaded guilty to charges of driving under the influence of drugs, and in 2008 he found hard drugs, including crack cocaine. In September 2010, the singer was sentenced to imprisonment for eight weeks after the incident, during which he was on his Range Rover crashed into a shop in north London. George Michael then confessed to driving under the influence and possession of cannabis.

George Michael and Elton John.

In 2011, George Michael has postponed a series of concerts after was admitted to hospital with pneumonia. The doctors did the singer traheoktomiyu to unlock the airways, as George Michael appeared unconscious and could not breathe.