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] ) 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]

Contents

Early life and career

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] During 1979–1980, Austin performed in a short-lived ska band called the Executive, along with Michael, Andrew and Paul Ridgeley, Andrew Leaver, Jamie Gould, and Tony Bywaters. [5]

Austin's debut single, "Turn to Gold", was released in May 1984, and featured Michael on backing vocals. His follow-up single, "This Boy Loves the Sun", was released in the late summer of 1984, [6] but did not chart. A third single, "Love While You Can" was released only in Japan. This also featured uncredited vocals by Michael. [7]

Formerly busking partners, [8] Austin and Michael's joint work included the download-only single "John and Elvis Are Dead", "You Have Been Loved" and "Look at Your Hands" from Michael's debut studio album, Faith . Co-written by Austin, "December Song (I Dreamed of Christmas)" was a Christmas single released by Michael on 14 December 2009.

Along with Michael, Austin directed the documentary film George Michael: Freedom, detailing Michael's early solo career and his court case with his record label, Sony Music. [9] An edited version of the film was aired in October 2017 on Channel 4; the original cut premiered in theatres worldwide on 22 June 2022, under the title Freedom Uncut. [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. ↑ Savage, Mark (13 March 2019). "'Everybody warmed to George Michael' – manager on life with the singer". BBC Music . Retrieved 9 February 2025.
  4. 1 2 Tannenbaum, Rob (21 June 2022). "George Michael Preferred Music to Fame. The Doc He Made Does, Too". The New York Times . Retrieved 9 February 2025.
  5. ↑ Ridgeley 2019 , p. 87, 107
  6. ↑ "Smash Hits". EMAP. 30 August 1984. p. 29. Retrieved 20 June 2021.
  7. ↑ "David Austin – Love While You Can". Discogs. February 1984. Retrieved 5 July 2020.
  8. ↑ Ridgeley 2019 , p. 85, 87
  9. ↑ "New documentary gives rare look into personal life of George Michael". ABC News . 17 October 2017. Retrieved 9 February 2025.
  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 . Retrieved 9 February 2025.

Sources


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