Craig Allen says: R.I.P George Michael. Listen Without Prejudice.

David Bowie. Glenn Frey. Prince.

Now, George Michael.

2016 has been rough on Jersey's Favorite Artists...

Giorgios Kyriacos Panayiotou -- June 25, 1963-December 25, 2016

You know the Wham!/George Michael story...and love the HITS!

From "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go" and "Everything She Wants" to "Faith" and "Father Figure," "I Want Your Sex," "Monkey" and more!

Both in the band, and as a solo artist, George Michael ruled the Top-40 airwaves from the mid-80's onward! (For more on George Michael's life and career, click HERE.)

Flash forward to 1990.

I am the afternoon guy on a Jersey AM station that's heavy on news and personality...and yes, we played music. Soft stuff from the 1970's into the early 1980's. Lots of Neil Diamond and Barry Manilow and Kenny Rogers.

I'm on the air doing my afternoon show, and the woman form the front desk walks in, with what turns out to be my promo copy of the new George Michael single.

It's called "Praying For Time."

I pop the CD in the player, and listen to this new song in cue, while I'm doing the show.

A few minutes later, I debuted it on my show. An instant "add."

We had been playing "Kissing A Fool," so my listeners knew (kind of) who George Michael was....so I figured that they would also accept this new song.

A very un-dance, non-pop record.

Adult.

It would go on to be a #1 record in a few weeks.

Yet, it is seldom (if ever) played today.

I ask you to listen again.

As the title of the album asks: "Listen Without Prejudice."