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Boy George | |
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 Boy George in 2016 | |
| Born | George Alan O'Dowd 14 June 1961 Barnehurst, Kent, England |
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| Occupations |
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| Years active | 1979–present |
| Musical career | |
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| Discography | Boy George discography |
| Labels | |
| Member of | Culture Club |
| Formerly of | |
| Website | boygeorgeandcultureclub |
George Alan O'Dowd (born 14 June 1961), known professionally as Boy George, is an English singer-songwriter and DJ who rose to fame as the lead singer of the pop band Culture Club. He began his solo career in 1987. Boy George grew up in Eltham and was part of the New Romantic movement which emerged in the late 1970s to early 1980s. His androgynous look and style of fashion was greatly inspired by glam rock pioneers David Bowie and Marc Bolan. He formed Culture Club with Roy Hay, Mikey Craig and Jon Moss in 1981. The band's second album, Colour by Numbers (1983), sold more than 10 million copies worldwide. Their hit singles include "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me", "Time (Clock of the Heart)", "I'll Tumble 4 Ya", "Church of the Poison Mind", "Karma Chameleon", "Victims", "Miss Me Blind", "It's a Miracle", "The War Song", "Move Away" and "I Just Wanna Be Loved".
Boy George was the lead singer of Jesus Loves You between 1989 and 1992 and still performs solo and with Culture Club, who have reformed twice since initially parting ways in 1986. He began his career as a DJ in the mid-1990s. Outside of music, Boy George's other creative activities involve mixed media art, writing books, designing clothes and photography. He has also made several appearances in television, most recently appearing as a contestant on the 22nd UK series of I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! in November 2022, eventually finishing in 8th place.
As a solo artist, Boy George has released nine studio albums, five compilation albums and forty-eight singles. He has also released seven DJ albums, three EPs and a soundtrack album. His solo hit songs include "Everything I Own", "Bow Down Mister", "Generations of Love" and "Love Is Leaving" and "The Crying Game", from the soundtrack for the film The Crying Game. He was featured as a vocalist on the 1984 charity song "Do They Know It's Christmas?" and was the last artist featured on the song to record his lines. Boy George's music features several genres, including pop, new wave, soul, soft rock, disco and reggae. He has received several awards as a solo artist and as a member of Culture Club. In 2001, he was voted 46th in a BBC poll of the 100 Greatest Britons.[3] In 2015, Boy George received an Ivor Novello Award from the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors for Outstanding Services to British Music.[4]
- ^ "7 Things You Might Not Know About Boy George". 14 June 2014. Archived from the original on 28 June 2021. Retrieved 17 December 2021.
- ^ Visco, Gerry (22 April 2014). "The Very Good Boy George". Interview. Retrieved 19 October 2024.
- ^ "The Top 100 Great Britons: 11-100". BBC. Archived from the original on 4 December 2002. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
- ^ "Boy George, The Ivors" Archived 1 January 2018 at the Wayback Machine. The Ivors. Retrieved 31 December 2017