Andrew Ridgeley, a renowned guitarist, environmentalist, and former member of the iconic pop duo Wham!, has left an indelible mark on the history of pop music. Born in England, Ridgeley's musical journey began at Bushey Meads School, where he met his future partner in music, George Michael.
Their friendship blossomed into a musical partnership, and they joined several bands before forming Wham! in the early 1980s. The duo's first single, "Young Guns," shot to number three in the UK charts, followed by "Wham Rap! (Enjoy What You Do)," which peaked at number eight. Their subsequent releases, including "Bad Boys," "Club Tropicana," and "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go," solidified their position as international superstars.
Wham!'s album "Fantastic" debuted at number one, and the duo went on to release four consecutive number one singles between 1984 and 1985: "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go," "Freedom," "I'm Your Man," and "The Edge of Heaven." Their album "Making It Big" reached number one, and "The Final" peaked at number two.
By 1986, Wham! had achieved unparalleled success, with number one hits in almost every country, including the United States. Although the duo eventually disbanded, their legacy lives on, with their album "The Best of Wham!" reaching number four in the UK over a decade later. Their albums and singles have been certified gold and platinum, and they are recognized as one of the first boy bands to achieve international success.
After Wham!'s dissolution, Ridgeley released a solo album, "Son of Albert," and collaborated with George Michael on the song "Red Dress." He is married to Bananarama singer Keren Woodward and resides in Cornwall, where he is an avid surfer and golfer. Ridgeley is also a passionate environmentalist, actively involved with the organization Surfers Against Sewage.
Wham!'s music has been featured in numerous films, including Sixteen Candles, Charlie's Angels, Zoolander, and The Holiday. Throughout his career, Ridgeley and George Michael have sold over 25 million certified records as part of Wham!.
