David Austin (singer)

David Austin
Birth nameDavid Mortimer
OriginUnited Kingdom
GenresPop
Occupations
Formerly ofBoogie 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. ^ a b 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