Topical Tuesday 27.12.16

2016, the year where no music legend was safe...

So over the festive season we said goodbye to yet another music hero, Wham! frontman, George Michael, passed away at the age of 53. Before we could even come to terms with this news it was announced today that Carrie Fisher, 60, passed away following a heart attack last week.

In honour of these heroes and many others we lost this year, the last topical tuesday of 2016 will be a tribute to artists we have lost in the last 12 months.

Wham! - Last Christmas

After we had all finished our roast potatoes, our sprouts and polished off some Christmas cake, it was announced that the 80s British singer had passed away. The iconic singer died of heart failure, according to the singer's longtime manager, Michael Lippman.

The English singer, songwriter, and record producer rose to fame as a member of the music duo Wham! He is best known for his work in the 1980s and 1990s, including hit singles such as Last Christmas and Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go, and albums such as Faith (1987) and Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1 (1990).

During early 1987 he launched his solo career, with a duet with Aretha Franklin. I Knew You Were Waiting was a one-off project that helped Michael achieve an ambition by singing with one of his favourite artists, and it scored number one on both the UK Singles Chart and the US Billboard Hot 100 upon its release.

David Bowie- Heroes

Just 10 days into 2016 we lost the Thin White Duke to cancer. On the singer's birthday, just two days before his death, he released his final album, Blackstar. He had been diagnosed with liver cancer 18 months earlier but had not made the news of his illness public.

Bowie was a pioneer of glam rock, according to music historians Schinder and Schwartz, who credited Marc Bolan and Bowie with creating the genre.

Following his death, fans flocked from all over the country to pay respect to him at a shrine in Brixton, south London. The birth place of the duke.

Prince - Kiss

American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, was known for his eclectic work, flamboyant stage presence, extravagant dress and makeup, and wide vocal range.

Rogers Nelson was born in Minneapolis, USA where be became known as Prince. Prince was given his father's stage name, Prince Rogers, which his father used while performing with a jazz group called the Prince Rogers Trio.

John Williams - Star Wars Theme

Earlier today it was announced that Carrie Fisher, Princess Leia, had passed away at 60-years-old. Her death came days after she was reported to have suffered a heart attack on a flight from London to Los Angeles last Friday. The news was confirmed in a statement released on behalf of her daughter, Billie Lourd.

Fisher’s Star Wars co-star Harrison Ford, 74, said in a statement: “Carrie was one-of-a-kind ... brilliant, original. Funny and emotionally fearless. She lived her life, bravely. My thoughts are with her daughter Billie, her mother Debbie, her brother Todd and her many friends. We will all miss her.”

Gene Wilder - Pure Imagination

Jerome Silberman, known professionally as Gene Wilder, was an American film and theatre comic actor, screenwriter, film director, and author.

In 1971, Wilder auditioned to play Willy Wonka in Mel Stuart's film adaptation of Roald Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. After reciting some lines, director Mel Stuart immediately offered him the role. Before Wilder was officially cast for the role, Fred Astaire, Joel Grey, Ron Moody and Jon Pertwee were all considered.