George Michael: Fans lay floral tributes as charities reveal singer's secret generosity

Updated December 27, 2016 10:26:07

Photo: Charities who secretly received millions of dollars from George Michael have joined the many celebrities paying tribute. (AP: Tim Ireland)

Grieving fans mourning the death of George Michael have spent the day laying floral tributes at his homes in north London and in Goring, England, where he died of apparent heart failure.

Key points:

• Fans lay floral tributes at both of George Michael's homes
• Charities reveal reveal the singer secretly gave away millions of dollars
• No word yet on official cause of death or funeral arrangements

The official cause of the 53-year-old's death has not been announced and his funeral arrangements are yet to be made public.

Fans who visited the singer's homes also placed candles, photos and CDs to remember a man who British charities have revealed had secretly been a major behind-the-scenes donor who gave time and money to charity.

The man with the reputation for self-indulgence had actually given millions of dollars to charities involved with helping children, cancer victims and AIDS sufferers.

He was also remembered for small acts of kindness: helping his village in north London get a Christmas tree, and volunteering at a homeless shelter.

Among the groups he supported were the Terrence Higgins Trust, which helps people with AIDS, Macmillan Cancer Support, and Childline, which offers confidential phone counselling for young people.

Photo: As fans laid floral tributes, charities revealed how George Michael secretly donated millions of dollars. (AP: Tim Ireland)

Childline founder Esther Rantzen said Michael gave royalties from his 1996 hit Jesus To A Child to the charity along with many other donations.

"Over the years he gave us millions and we were planning next year, as part of our 30th anniversary celebrations to create, we hoped, a big concert in tribute to him to his artistry, to his wonderful musicality but also to thank him for the hundreds of thousands of children he helped," she said.

Photo: Floral tributes were left outside George Michael's home in Goring, where he died. (Reuters: Eddie Keogh)

She said Michael was determined that no one outside the charity should know "how much he gave to the nation's most vulnerable children".

The music that made George Michael

The Wham! singer and solo artist's, whose music career spanned decades, is among the most played artists on British radio. Here are some of his most loved and well known songs.

Jane Barron from the Terrence Higgins Trust said Michael made many donations and gifts, including the royalties of his Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me duet with Elton John in 1991.

Michael had spoken publicly about the pain of losing a partner to AIDS early in the epidemic, but he kept his long history of donations to the trust private.

On social media, many revealed other anonymous acts of benevolence from Michael.

Stories included Michael leaving huge tips to struggling wait staff, performing free concerts to nurses and giving thousands of dollars to a Deal Or No Deal contestant who said she needed money for IVF treatment.

External Link: Richard Osman tweets: A woman on 'Deal Or No Deal' told us she needed £15k for IVF treatment. George Michael secretly phoned the next day and gave her the £15K

External Link: Carole Solazzo tweet: #GeorgeMichael often kept aside tickets for NHS staff at his concerts and once gave an entire special concert free of charge for nurses #NHS

External Link: Sali Hughes tweet: I wrote in a piece ages ago about a celeb I'd worked with tipping a barmaid £5k because she was a student nurse in debt. Was George Michael.

Michael's later years were marked by occasional brushes with the law and a series of driving incidents related to substance abuse, but another side has emerged as top charity figures stepped forward to thank Michael for years of donations.

• Photo: Beloved pop star George Michael has passed away at his home. He was 53. (AP: Francois Mori)
• Photo: Michael shot to fame as half of British pop group Wham!, seen here performing in Peking, China in 1985. (AP)
• Photo: Michael became a successful solo artist after Wham!, winning acclaim and selling records across the world. In 1989 he won three American Music Awards. (AP: Alan Greth)
• Photo: Michael collaborated with several artists over the course of his career. In 1985 he sung with Paul McCartney and Freddie Mercury, among others, at the Live Aid famine relief concert. (AP: Joe Schaber)
• Photo: His collaborations continued throughout his career, performing several times with Paul McCartney, like at the 2005 Live 8 appeal. (AP: Lefteris Pitarakis)
• Photo: Michael performed 'Living for the City' with Stevie Wonder at the 4th annual VH1 Honors in 1997. (AP: Mark J. Terrill)
• Photo: In 1993 Michael fought his record label Sony to release him from his contract. He gave evidence at the Royal Courts in October. (AP: Alistair Grant)
• Photo: George Michael spent much of his life campaigning for a cure for HIV/ AIDS. He performed at "Concert of Hope" to mark World AIDS Day at London's Wembley Arena in 1993. (AP: Gill Allen)
• Photo: Michael's life was not without controversy, having several brushes with the law. He's pictured here leaving court in 2010 after admitted driving under the influence of drugs and possession of cannabis. (AP: Sang Tan)
• Photo: Michael's health had been rocky in his later years. In 2011 he recovered from a life-threatening bout of pneumonia that kept him in hospital for a month. (AP: Lefteris Pitarakis)
• Photo: Michael continued to sell out stadiums well into the 2000s, such as this one in Dubai. He is one of the UK's highest-selling artists. (AP: Carl Abrams)

Gallery: George Michael's life and career in photos

ABC/wires

First posted December 27, 2016 05:50:28

Source : abc[dot]net[dot]au