Born on 14 June, 1961, Boy George was originally born George Alan O'Dowd. He comes from a relatively poor background, and lived in various squats around London whilst young, trying to make a name for himself. Boy George is famous for his androgynous appearance, amongst other things. His extremely unique and now iconic style earned him attention when he was young and was what launched his career. He was discovered by the music executive Malcolm McLaren, and originally asked to perform with the already established music group Bow Wow Wow.
Over his career, Boy George has worked with a number of bands: during the 80s he was the lead singer of the band Culture Club, who won Grammys and Brit Awards for their music. He also founded and performed with the group Jesus Loves You during the period 1989–1992. He is well known for his soulful voice and sings a range of different genres, from new wave and disco to soul, pop and soft rock. However, his music style is most commonly referred to as blue-eyed soul, a genre of music influenced by reggae and rhythm and blues.
In the 1990s and 2000s, Boy George went solo and his music contained more glam influences, such as the likes of David Bowie and Iggy Pop. He will always be remembered however, for being a key member of the 1970s and 80s New Romantic music movement, that occurred in England.
Boy George is an artist in the truest extent. He has no qualms about expressing himself and has gained severe attention both negative and positive for doing so. Some people may brush him off as a gimmick others may recognize his genius, but you have to hand it to him that he can put on a hell of a show.
Boy George has reached astronomical success with his classic “Karma Chameleon” but the entirety of his credibility is not tied to this hit. His creative strength and his pop sensibility is reflected throughout his career. Boy George is anything but a chameleon. The color of his sound may be constantly changing, but he refuses to blend into the background. His fashion senses are daring, flamboyant and more often than not pay off. His stage presence is almost reason alone to see his performance. His shows combine wondrous visuals and irresistible music into an experience that can not be ignored.
Boy George plays upbeat dance tracks such as “I’ll Tumble 4 You” and “Time (Clock of the Heart), but also shows that he can do serious material as well. Such songs as “Do You Really Want to Hurt Me” is a perfect example of his openly sensitive and melancholic side. He has even displayed different sides of himself through collaborations. A few years back he recorded the heartbreaking song “You Are My Sister” with the brilliant classical pop singer songwriter “Antony”. Boy George’s career has proven to be a significant influence on the work of underground and complex musicians like the as mentioned Antony and Rufus Wainwright, but has spoke to thousands of pop stars as well.
Boy George tours with a knock out band that captures the essence of his sound and all the nuances of style form his spanning career. He tours with at least three back up singers, a horn section, a multi instrumentalist, the basic guitar, bass, drum setup, and even a lap steel player. He has it all covered. His new material is on par with the brilliance of his early career. At his show you will hear country ballads, reggae jams and his signature blue eyed soul. Boy George is truly an entertainer at heart and an artist by nature. Whether he is spinning records at a night club or pouring his soul out on stage the audience walks away nothing less than satisfied.