David Austin (singer)

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David Austin
Birth nameDavid Mortimer
OriginUnited Kingdom
Genres Pop
Occupations
Formerly of Boogie Box High

David Austin (born David Mortimer [1] on 14 July 1962) is a British singer and songwriter, who released the single "Turn to Gold", co-written with George Michael in 1984. It reached No. 68 in the UK Singles Chart. [2] The single featured backing vocals from Michael, who called Austin his best friend in the documentary film, A Different Story . [3]

Austin was born to Irish parents. His father manufactured trumpets and other instruments for the British music company Boosey & Hawkes. By the age of six, Austin had learned to use a Revox recording machine and recorded several songs with Michael, including Crocodile Rock by Elton John, Wig Wam Bam by the Sweet—Michael’s favorite band—and their first co-written original, The Music Maker of the World. [4]

His follow-up single, "This Boy Loves the Sun", was released in the late summer of 1984 [5] but did not chart. [6] [7]

A third single, "Love While You Can" was released only in Japan. This also featured uncredited vocals by Michael. [8]

Formerly busking partners, [9] Austin and Michael's joint work included the download-only single "John and Elvis Are Dead", their biggest hit "You Have Been Loved" and "Look at Your Hands" from the album Faith . "December Song (I Dreamed of Christmas)" was a Christmas single released by Michael and Austin together on 14 December 2009. [4]

He appears as a guitarist in Wham!'s video for the song "The Edge of Heaven". [10]

References

  1. ↑ Ridgeley 2019 , p. 233
  2. ↑ Rice, Tim; Rice, Jonathan; Gambaccini, Paul (1990), Guinness Book of British Hit Singles & Albums , Enfield, Middlesex: Guinness World Records and Guinness Publishing, ISBN   0-85112-398-8
  3. ↑ "'Everybody warmed to George Michael' - manager on life with the singer". BBC. 13 March 2019.
  4. 1 2 Tannenbaum, Rob (21 June 2022). "George Michael Preferred Music to Fame. The Doc He Made Does, Too". The New York Times .
  5. ↑ "Smash Hits". EMAP. 30 August 1984. p. 29. Retrieved 20 June 2021.
  6. ↑ "David Austin – This Boy Loves The Sun". Discogs. 1984. Retrieved 20 June 2021.
  7. ↑ "New documentary gives rare look into personal life of George Michael". ABC News.
  8. ↑ "David Austin – Love While You Can". Discogs. February 1984. Retrieved 5 July 2020.
  9. ↑ Ridgeley 2019 , p. 85, 87
  10. ↑ Tannenbaum, Rob (29 June 2023). "Andrew Ridgeley on George Michael's favorite subject (sex) and their group's end: 'Wham! couldn't age'". Los Angeles Times.

Sources


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