George Michael’s sister Melanie Panayiotou died Wednesday on the third anniversary of the singer’s dying, the household’s lawyer confirmed to USA Today.
“We can confirm that very tragically Melanie has passed away suddenly,” the assertion from lawyer John Reid learn. “We would simply ask that the family’ s privacy be respected at this very sad time.”
Michael has one other sister, Yioda.
London’s Metropolitan Police additionally confirmed Panayiotou’s dying to Sky News and The Guardian and said it isn’t being handled as suspicious. The explanation for dying remains to be unknown.
Michael, the British singer, musician and founding member of Wham!, died the identical day three years prior in Goring, England. Two months later, a British coroner decided the singer died of pure causes as a result of coronary heart illness and a fatty liver.
Michael offered greater than 100 million albums globally, earned quite a few Grammy Awards, and recorded duets with Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, Luciano Pavarotti and Elton John, amongst others.
In 2004, the Radio Academy declared that his music had been performed on British radio greater than that of any artist between 1984 and 2004.
That 12 months, Michael instructed USA TODAY that he “was kind of glad that my success level went down in America. I got more of a life, got to enjoy being in America, with less attention than I was used to in Europe. But now I’m strong again. I feel ready to take on the world.”
The pop star’s dying on the age of 53 shocked the leisure group.
“I am in deep shock,” Elton John wrote on Instagram on the time. “I have lost a beloved friend — the kindest, most generous soul and a brilliant artist. My heart goes out to his family and all of his fans.”
Read extra at usatoday.com.