Boy George
Overview
Boy George is a British
singer-songwriter who was part of the English New Romantic
movement which emerged in the early 1980s. He helped give androgyny
an international stage with the success of Culture Club
during the 1980s. His music is often classified as blue-eyed soul
, which is influenced by rhythm and blues
and reggae
. His 1990s and 2000s-era solo music has glam
influences such as David Bowie
and Iggy Pop
. He also founded and was lead singer of Jesus Loves You
during the period 1989–1992.
British people
The British are citizens of the United Kingdom, of the Isle of Man, any of the Channel Islands, or of any of the British overseas territories, and their descendants...
singer-songwriter who was part of the English New Romantic
New Romantic
New Romanticism , was a pop culture movement in the United Kingdom that began around 1979 and peaked around 1981. Developing in London nightclubs such as Billy's and The Blitz and spreading to other major cities in the UK, it was based around flamboyant, eccentric fashion and new wave music...
movement which emerged in the early 1980s. He helped give androgyny
Androgyny
Androgyny is a term derived from the Greek words ανήρ, stem ανδρ- and γυνή , referring to the combination of masculine and feminine characteristics...
an international stage with the success of Culture Club
Culture Club
Culture Club are a British rock band who were part of the 1980s New Romantic movement. The original band consisted of Boy George , Mikey Craig , Roy Hay and Jon Moss...
during the 1980s. His music is often classified as blue-eyed soul
Blue-eyed soul
Blue-eyed soul is a media term that was used to describe rhythm and blues and soul music performed by white artists, with a strong pop music influence. The term was first used in the mid-1960s to describe white artists who performed soul and R&B that was similar to the music of the Motown and...
, which is influenced by rhythm and blues
Rhythm and blues
Rhythm and blues, often abbreviated to R&B, is a genre of popular African American music that originated in the 1940s. The term was originally used by record companies to describe recordings marketed predominantly to urban African Americans, at a time when "urbane, rocking, jazz based music with a...
and reggae
Reggae
Reggae is a music genre first developed in Jamaica in the late 1960s. While sometimes used in a broader sense to refer to most types of Jamaican music, the term reggae more properly denotes a particular music style that originated following on the development of ska and rocksteady.Reggae is based...
. His 1990s and 2000s-era solo music has glam
Glam rock
Glam rock is a style of rock and pop music that developed in the UK in the early 1970s, which was performed by singers and musicians who wore outrageous clothes, makeup and hairstyles, particularly platform-soled boots and glitter...
influences such as David Bowie
David Bowie
David Bowie is an English musician, actor, record producer and arranger. A major figure for over four decades in the world of popular music, Bowie is widely regarded as an innovator, particularly for his work in the 1970s...
and Iggy Pop
Iggy Pop
Iggy Pop is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and actor. Though considered an innovator of punk rock, Pop's music has encompassed a number of styles over the years, including pop, metal, jazz and blues...
. He also founded and was lead singer of Jesus Loves You
Jesus Loves You (band)
Jesus Loves You were a British band, founded by the singer Boy George. The music of the band is a mixture of electronic dance music, Indian classical music and western pop music. Their lyrics are about love, spirituality and the equality of all human beings....
during the period 1989–1992.
Quotations
I was pleased because he is the first American rapper to say something positive about gay people. I met his mum, she's lovely.
The London Evening Standard, 20 February 2006:
Hello, I'm Boy George, and you are watching RBTV. Come out of the closet, all you students - we want you!
RBTV (Rainier Beach High School TeleVision in Seattle), 1996
I'm not gay, and I'm not a transvestite.
London newspaper, 1984