Music News LIVE: Tributes to George Michael 1963-2016

Here's some more of your favourite George Michael moments then...

Mike Doyle said on Facebook: "My favourite song of George is the ones on his album Older, so awesome but love the rest too ❤❤❤❤😋"

Four hearts means Mike loves that record a lot.

Lynne Robinson said: "A Different Corner for me and my hubby but the whole of his music played such an important part in my life. He will be so missed."

We heard you Lynne.

Sam Hankin added: "I was 7 years old, loved club tropicana, my first crush, careless whisper is my old time favourite song ever! Fastlove amazing song. He will be missed. R.I.P George. 💔 "

So this absolute classic goes out to you then Sam...

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Thanks for all your varied suggestions today on Facebook, Twitter and email, reminding us of just how many hits George had in his arsenal.

Finally Sunshine suggests this soulful number from a more mature George in 1998.

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From teenager pop idol in Wham! to his solo career as a serious independently minded artist, George Michael made pop work for him.

Music Reporter Mark Savage has a look at his career.

"Faith put him on a par with other 80s superstars like Michael Jackson and Madonna. In the US, it appealed equally to both black and white audiences, selling 20 million copies, and became the first album by a white act to top Billboard's R&B chart.

"Michael was rightfully proud of the record's musical diversity: 'If you can listen to this album and not like anything on it, then you do not like pop music,' he told Rolling Stone magazine."

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The sheer weight of tributes to George Michael today from all sections of society has been great testament to the artist and the man.

Sir Paul McCartney (above) said his "sweet soul music will live on".

Simon Hattenstone rips a great yarn in The Guardian about his encounters with George.

And here's a few more final Tweets about George from some famous faces, beginning with a heart-warming tale from TV's RIchard Osman.

We've heard many tributes today and listened back to some of George's hits.

Now let's have a look at the career of the singer in photo form.

We bet a few of you had George-inspired haircuts at one point or other.

And this is one snazzy cardie...

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While George Michael is being celebrated rightly for his music, others are noting the role he played campaigning for gay rights. 

He officially came out as gay in 1998 during a TV interview, saying hiding his sexuality had made him feel ‘fraudulent’.

Here Matt Cain, Editor-in-Chief of gay magazines Attitude and Winq, discusses George Michael's impact on LGBT rights.

We've already heard from George Michael's Oxfordshire neighbours (scroll down) but music fans have also now gathered at his home in Hampstead, North London to pay their respects to the singer who was a "major part of my life."

Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images

George's collaborators through the years list the great and the good, including Aretha Franklin, Elton John, Stevie Wonder and (albeit unknowingly) Newsbeat presenter Chris Smith.

He remembers his small part in one of George Michael's hits.

That seems to be the general consensus from music fans right now.

Here's some of the sporting world now reacting to the death of one of the nation's most-loved performers.

Starting with BBC Sport's Gary Lineker, who echoes Madonna's exact thoughts (scroll down) but in a rather more polite and broadcast-able manner.

News of George's death has also almost reduced one very hard man to tears.

While other celebrities from the worlds of music, film and more also paid their respects.

Peter CookeCopyright: Peter Cooke

Villagers in Goring-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, where George Michael died on Christmas Day, have been paying their respects to the singer.

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Floral tributes have been left at the door of his cottage with one resident saying: "He was the soundtrack to my youth.

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ReutersCopyright: Reuters

"He was an amazing talent and it's just so sad. Because he was here when he died, we felt we had to come down to lay some flowers."  

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We asked you for it on the BBC Music Facebook and Twitter pages...and you've provided it.

Aasifa Usmani said: "I love his Kissing a fool and Freedom, he'll construct a sentence with different meanings which can resonate at so many different moments and feelings in your life."  Nice.

Karen Orford says simply: "Fastlove".  Enough said Karen.

Christine Smith said: "I was lucky enough to see him in concert twice, Hampden and SECC Glasgow. A legend, RIP x "  Indeed.  

And Sas Den Hollander thinks this tribute to Freddy is the "Best live performance ever". 

Liam Gallagher seems to have picked his favourite George Michael moment too.

What do you think?  Keep them coming.  

What better way to remember George Michael than by celebrating his music.

BBC Music have kindly pulled together a selection box of clips and programmes about the man himself for your Boxing Day entertainment.

And one to be played loud in kitchens up and down the land this evening: A special George Michael playlist of all his tunes played across the BBC's stations today.

If you're gonna do, do it right.

BBC MusicCopyright: BBC Music

Another of George's early contemporaries, Sara Dallin from 80s pop group Bananarama had this to say on Twitter:

While comedian David Baddiel wrote: "Last night found the email from George Michael after I asked if we could use Faith (for nearly nothing) in The Infidel. What a lovely bloke."

George's reply: "I know that you are genuinely fond of the record. Good luck with the movie, I'd love a copy when its done."

If you don't have too long to spare today then here's some key George Michael facts in under 60 seconds, courtesy of the good people at BBC World News.

Arts Editor Will Gompertz has been speaking to the Today programme's Nick Robinson about just how George managed to sustain his career.

He also speaks about the nature of his troubled relationship with fame.

In 2002, George showed off a new side, writing and singing the overtly political anti-Iraq war Shoot the Dog, which mocked US President George W Bush and Tony Blair - portrayed as a cartoon poodle.

The singer defended the single, saying he did not intend the satirical track to be an attack on President Bush or to cause offence to American people.

He told CNN's Talkback Live TV show: "It's anti-Mr Blair and anti-Mr Blair's reluctance to challenge Mr Bush. It's not anti-American in any sense."

George said he had begun writing the song before the US attacks on 11 September 2001, but because of its political nature he had delayed its release until 12 August.

"On an issue as enormous as the possible bombing of Iraq, how can you represent us when you haven't asked us what we think?

"And let's be honest, we haven't even begun to discuss it as a society," he said.

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The singer spoke candidly to presenter Kirsty Young about his life, career and "self-destructive" nature, as he selected his favourite tracks, including Amy Winehouse's Love Is A Losing Game.

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You can hear the highlights of their conversation below, or listen to the full episode again here.

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You've been contacting BBC News with your memories of George Michael, who has died at the age of 53.

His four-decade spanning career included three Brit Awards, four MTV Video Music Awards, four Ivor Novello Awards, three American Music Awards, and two Grammy Awards.

But he also won many of your hearts and minds.

Quote Message: George Michael allowed us to know that it was ok to be gay. To sing with soul with that pure voice. To write songs that pierced the soul that didn't have to be written for radio. To simply be human where we all made mistakes and the sun still shined the next day." from Erich Cortese in France

George Michael allowed us to know that it was ok to be gay. To sing with soul with that pure voice. To write songs that pierced the soul that didn't have to be written for radio. To simply be human where we all made mistakes and the sun still shined the next day."

Quote Message: Every Christmas, me and my family would listen to the song "Last Christmas". When I got an iPod earlier this year, the first songs I downloaded were Last Christmas, Forever and Careless Whisper. I was big fan of George Michael." from Enea Çollaku

Every Christmas, me and my family would listen to the song "Last Christmas". When I got an iPod earlier this year, the first songs I downloaded were Last Christmas, Forever and Careless Whisper. I was big fan of George Michael."

Quote Message: George Michael was my childhood crush. I was the biggest Wham fan ever. I had everything Wham. I totally adored him. As a grown up I thought he was a fantastic talent a superb artist." from Sally from Skipton

George Michael was my childhood crush. I was the biggest Wham fan ever. I had everything Wham. I totally adored him. As a grown up I thought he was a fantastic talent a superb artist."

Quote Message: When the video ‘Wake Me Up Before You Go Go’ came out I was mesmerized by George and his gold earnings. I loved his style his talent and his beautiful voice. I never met the man, but he changed my life for the better and hope he has found peace." from Theophilus Ghoststone from Ohio, United States:

When the video ‘Wake Me Up Before You Go Go’ came out I was mesmerized by George and his gold earnings. I loved his style his talent and his beautiful voice. I never met the man, but he changed my life for the better and hope he has found peace."

Quote Message: So sad, I have loved George since he was in Wham!, I have seen him in concert nine times on his recent tours, I never got to see any Wham! shows with me being too young at the time. I'll always have fond memories of George and his timeless music, my favourite being 'Careless Whisper', and will never forget the fun times on Twitter where he called us - his fans 'his lovelies'." from Elaine Graham from Scotland

So sad, I have loved George since he was in Wham!, I have seen him in concert nine times on his recent tours, I never got to see any Wham! shows with me being too young at the time. I'll always have fond memories of George and his timeless music, my favourite being 'Careless Whisper', and will never forget the fun times on Twitter where he called us - his fans 'his lovelies'."

ReutersCopyright: Reuters

We've just had a statement from George's record label Universal.

"We’re in shock at the loss of one of the greatest singer-songwriters.

"The brilliance of his music, the soundtrack to so many lives, will live for ever.

"Our deepest condolences to George’s family and friends from everyone at Universal Music."

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When he left Take That in 1995, few assumed Robbie Williams was guaranteed a solo career.

He launched it in 1996 by covering George's Freedom.

The single reached number two in the UK Singles Chart and kick-started a career which would see Robbie go on to win a record 18 Brit awards.

In the early 2000s, when George had suggested he was quitting music, Robbie said in an interview: "I'm gutted. I really wanted to duet with him on my album."

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