You’ve probably heard about Andrew John Ridgeley, an outstanding songwriter that has risen to fame since the 80s. He was born on January 26, 1963. This was a result of his connection to the group Wham!
Parents Jennifer John and Alberto Mario Zacharia welcomed Ridgeley in Windlesham, Surrey, England. Ridgeley then adopted the name.
While his father was of Italian and Egyptian descent, his mother was of English and Scottish ancestry. Bushey Meads School is the school that Ridgeley attended while growing up in Bushey, Hertfordshire.
While his father worked at Canon, his mother taught at Bushey Heath Primary School. Immediately after George Michael started school, Ridgeley opted to be his mentor.
Andrew Ridgeley’s Personal Life
This is the part that will interest you the most as a reader. Like everyone else, Andrew Ridgeley began dating Bananarama member Keren Woodward in 1990. Throughout their relationships, they lived with her son Thomas, whom she had from a previous relationship, in a converted 15th-century barn in Wadebridge, Cornwall. In 2017 Andrew and Keren separated. But the good news in late 2019 was that “the couple” reportedly reconciled.
Severally, Ridgeley has taken part in the charity bike ride Dallaglio Cycle Slam. This event has always benefited Dallaglio Rugby Works, using Rugby to transform the aspirations of young people.
Andrew Ridgeley’s Rise to Fame
Michael and Ridgeley founded the duo Wham! in 1981 after spending years playing in several bands, most notably the Executive.
Ridgeley’s part was to contribute to the songwriting, play the guitar, and sing backing vocals, while Michael served as the lead vocalist, principal songwriter, and keyboard player.
They sent a homemade demo cassette to several record labels before agreeing to a deal with Innervision Records, which CBS Records distribute.
It was in Ridgeley’s living room that the recording was completed in around ten minutes. After releasing just one album, the group teamed up with Epic Records/CBS.
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Andrew Ridgeley’s Net Worth
The Dallaglio Rugby Works, an organization that uses rugby to assist young people constructively dealing with life, will profit from this charity bike ride. Former England rugby captain Lawrence Dallaglio launched the organization in 2009.
Ridgeley had a romantic relationship with Keren Woodward of Bananarama from 1990 till 2017. They resided in a home with her son in the 1500s and were close to Wadebridge, Cornwall, England. It was in 2022 that Ridgeley began dating socialite Amanda Cronin.
According to several media reports and analyses, Andrew Ridgeley’s net worth is nearly $40 million. His net worth has significantly increased due to his outstanding career with Wham! and his global recognition as a singer-songwriter.
Contracts Bagged
Andrew became famous in the music industry after he worked with popular record labels, where he released his albums. After becoming famous in the music industry, he signed contracts with these labels for a high fee. He also signed one of his first contracts with Innervision Records when he released his albums in his starting career.
Andrew Ridgeley Career in Wham!
Between 1982 and 1986, Wham! They enjoyed fantastic popularity, enabling them to sell over 35 million records worldwide.
In 1984, Wham! Competed with Duran Duran for the title of Britain’s most significant pop act, scoring two U.K. No. 1 hits on the charts. To do this, Napier-Bell came up with a publicity plan that he thought would raise their profile on a global scale. He traveled to China for ten days with Wham in April 1985.
Wham! made history when they performed in China for the first time as a Western pop group. Following two warm-up performances in Hong Kong, the ensemble performed in front of 15,000 people in Beijing and Canton.
The incident was captured on tape for “Wham! in China: Foreign Skies,” a documentary. In 1985, Ridgeley provided backing vocals for Michael at an Elton John and Live Aid performance.
The fourth and final U.K. No. 1 hit for Wham! was “The Edge of Heaven” from their 1986 album. The duo split up on Saturday, June 28, 1986, following a last performance called “The Final” in front of 72,000 spectators at Wembley Stadium. Michael was ready to seek a more mature audience.
To help his breathing, Ridgeley had his septum repaired in 1984 after photos of his bandaged face surfaced in British tabloids, Wham!
Awards and Nominations
Looking at the awards and nominations, Wham! earned two Grammy nominations;
1. Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals for “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go” (1985).
2. Best Music Video, Long Form for “Wham!: The Video” (1986).
According to a story by manager Simon Napier-Bell, Ridgeley supposedly suffered a punch to the nose in a nightclub that led to the bandages.
