Praise for George Michael

Gavin’s engrossing biography of the singer takes the measure of a gifted, tragic and infuriating man.
New York Times

A fascinating, heartbreaking bio.
People Magazine

“James Gavin has delivered a stunning, empathic, and peerlessly knowledgeable biography of George Michael. Gavin’s attention to his subject’s artistry, his honest treatment of Michael’s struggles, his sharp-eyed understanding of the last days of record-company dominance, and his comprehension of the shifting tides of gay acceptance in our culture are sublime. The author of biographies of Chet Baker, Lena Horne, and Peggy Lee has, with this book, firmed up his place as one of our very best writers about music and life.”
Sheila Weller, author of Girls Like Us: Carole King, Joni Mitchell, Carly Simon—and the Journey of a Generation

“James Gavin is a biographer of the highest order, with a gorgeous sense of narrative and insight galore. His George Michael: A Life is a backstage, all-access pass into a glittery world filled with dark corners and trap doors. It’s a thrilling, albeit cautionary tale of success, excess, and a remarkable performer who met his destiny head-on.”
Bob Spitz, New York Times bestselling author of The Beatles: The Biography and Led Zeppelin: The Biography

About the Author

James Gavin is an award-winning writer and music biographer celebrated for his ability to peel back the layers of legendary, often complex icons. Known for his deep-dive research and cinematic storytelling, Gavin's work has been hailed by the New York Times as "probing," "engrossing," and "meticulously researched."
In George Michael: A Life, Gavin draws on hundreds of interviews with the singer's closest friends and colleagues to deliver the definitive portrait of a pop revolutionary. From the sun-drenched euphoria of Wham! to the sophisticated, soulful depths of George Michael's solo career, Gavin explores the man behind the aviators-tracing his fierce battle for creative agency, his journey toward living authentically, and the private struggles that fueled his greatest songs.
Gavin is the author of several high-profile biographies, including:
Deep in a Dream: The Long Night of Chet BakerIs That All There Is?: The Strange Life of Peggy LeeStormy Weather: The Life of Lena Horne
His writing has appeared in the New York Times, Vanity Fair, and Time Out New York. A two-time winner of the ASCAP Deems Taylor-Virgil Thomson Award for excellence in music journalism, Gavin lives in New York City, where he continues to document the lives of the voices that shaped the 20th century.

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