Singer George Michael Dies At 53

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Francois Mori / AP

British singer George Michael, who rose to fame during the 1980s as part of the pop duo Wham! before launching a Grammy-winning solo career, has died, his publicist said Sunday. He was 53.

“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,” his publicist said in a statement to BuzzFeed News.

“The family would ask that their privacy be respected at this difficult and emotional time. There will be no further comment at this stage,” the publicist said.

A cause of death was not provided.

Police and ambulance workers visited a property believed to belong to the singer in Oxfordshire on Sunday, the BBC reported, but there were no suspicious circumstances.

Michael performing in 1988.

Diane Pleines-fox / ASSOCIATED PRESS

Oozing sex appeal and effortless cool, Michael's music career spanned decades, cementing his place as a pop icon and one of the world's most famous and influential gay entertainers.

The musician, who was born Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou, formed Wham! with bandmate Andrew Ridgeley in 1981, releasing endlessly upbeat songs like “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go” and “Freedom.”

The pair's albums topped the charts in the US and UK, and together they sold more than 25 million records.

A perfect encapsulation of the exuberance of the decade, Wham! in 1985 became the first Western band to play in China, drawing international media attention.

A year later the duo parted ways, as Michael moved to shed his teeny-bopper image and launch a more adult solo career.

He released his first solo album, Faith, in 1987, with the title track becoming one of his most popular songs.

Michael 's ripped blue jeans, leather jacket, and aviator sunglasses from the video become one of his most iconic looks, as he swaggered back and forward, suggestively shaking his rear-end for the camera.

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The album sold more than 25 million copies worldwide and enjoyed four number one US singles: “Faith,” “Father Figure,” “One More Try,” and “Monkey.”

It also won the Grammy Award for Album of the Year and three American Music Awards.

He continued recording well into the 90s, releasing the albums Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1, Five Live, Older, and Songs from the Last Century, most of which contained tracks that enjoyed success near the top of the charts.

This is a developing news story. Check back for updates or follow BuzzFeed News on Twitter.

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