At the young age of 53. And as I grow older the ages of celebrities dying get younger. 

I thought a lot of his stuff was great. I was actually quite a fan of Listen Without Prejudice. 

Did not know of his Greek heritage. Not sure it explains anything other than that it clearly doesn't matter. People are people. Mostly.  

I don't really know where he disappeared. Initially it was his struggle with Sony. Then maybe his popularity. He had a couple albums but nothing much really happened. Seems like he just retreated. I mean if that worked for him - then great. How many artists that overstay their welcome. 

Not George Michael.

Remembering him with a particularly heart-wrenching rendition from LWP...

"They Won't Go When I Go"

No more lying friends
Wanting tragic ends
Though they do pretend
They won't go when i go

All those bleeding hearts
With sorrows to impart
Were right here from the start
And they won't go when i go

And i'll go where i've longed
To go so long
Away from tears

Gone from painful cries
Away from saddened eyes
Along with him i'll bide
Because they won't go when i go

Big men feeling small
Weak ones standing tall
I will watch them fall
They won't go when i go

And i'll go where i've longed
To go so long
Away from tears

Unclean minds mislead the pure
The innocent will leave for sure
For them there is a resting place
People sinning just for fun
They will never see the sun
For they can never show their faces
There ain't no room for the hopeless sinner
Who will take more than he will give
He ain't hardly gonna give

The greed of man will be
Far away from me
And my soul will be free
They won't go when i go

Since my soul conceived
All that i believe
The kingdom i will see
'Cause they won't go when i go

When i go
Where i'll go
No one can keep me
From my destiny

- perfomred by George Michael (1963-2016)

- written by Yvonne Lowrene Wright and Stevie Wonder