Andrew John Ridgeley is an English musician best known for his work in the 1980s musical duo Wham!
He is also known for his successful solo career and is considered a pop and dance music pioneer.
He has sold millions of records worldwide and is highly regarded as one of the most influential and talented musicians of his time.
Andrew John Ridgeley was born on 26 January 1963 in Windlesham, United Kingdom. He was raised by his parents, Albert Ridgeley and Jennifer Ridgeley, and grew up with one sibling, Paul Ridgeley.
Ridgeley spent his childhood in Bushey, Hertfordshire, and attended Bushey Meads School. His mother was a schoolteacher at Bushey Heath Primary School, while his father worked for Canon. When George Michael started school, Ridgeley volunteered to take him under his wing.
Andrew Ridgeley’s career has been divided into two phases: his time with the 80s sensation duo Wham! and his post-Wham! Endeavours. Ridgeley and George Michael, who had been friends since school, formed Wham! in 1981. While Michael was the primary songwriter and lead vocalist, Ridgeley played guitar, co-wrote some songs, and provided backing vocals.
The band’s fun and catchy tunes and playful image catapulted them to superstardom with hits like “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go” and “Careless Whisper.” Wham! Went on to sell over 25 million records worldwide before disbanding in 1986.
Despite being part of one of the most successful pop duos of the 1980s, Andrew Ridgeley chose to follow a different path after Wham! Disbanded. While his former bandmate George Michael achieved immense success as a solo artist, Ridgeley dabbled in other endeavours such as motor racing and acting.
However, these pursuits brought him a different level of success than his music career. After releasing a solo album in 1990, Ridgeley largely retreated from the public eye and focused on environmental causes and his personal life.
One-half of the iconic duo Wham! Andrew Ridgeley has had a few significant relationships. His most notable one was with Keren Woodward, a singer from the band Bananarama.
They were together for an impressive 25 years, from 1990 to 2017, and even lived together in Cornwall with Woodward’s son. Despite their split, they remained close friends.
However, in 2022, Ridgeley went public with his relationship with Bavarian model Amanda Cronin. They were seen attending social events together and seemed to be in a strong relationship. Sadly, their love story ended in May 2023.
Andrew Ridgeley is best known as the other half of the iconic 80s duo Wham! Alongside George Michael. After the group disbanded in 1986, Ridgeley pursued a solo career but eventually retired from the music industry. He has since become a successful businessman and author, with his net worth estimated at $40 million.
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