Singer George Michael dies at 53

British singer George Michael, who rose to fame as one half of the 1980s duo Wham! and later built a solo career, died late Sunday evening at his home in England at the age of 53, according to world media, as reported by Patria.

Wham! became the most popular duo ever in the 1980s, surpassing even Simon & Garfunkel on the charts, with singles such as „Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go“, „Careless Whisper“ and „Last Christmas“.

British police described the singer's death as „unexplained, but not suspicious“.

For now, heart failure is being cited as the cause of a sudden but „peaceful death“, some media report.

Born in 1963 in London as Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou to Greek immigrant parents, Michael played in the London Underground in his early days before becoming famous as Wham!

He founded Wham! in 1981 with school friend Andrew Ridgeley.

- I am in deep shock, said Elton John. „I have lost a beloved friend – the kindest, most generous soul and a brilliant artist“.