Andrew John Ridgeley (born 26 January 1963) is an English singer, songwriter, and record producer, best known for his work in the 1980s as one half of the musical duo Wham!.
Ridgeley was born in Windlesham, Surrey, England, to parents Jennifer John (née Dunlop) and Alberto Mario Zacharia (who later changed his surname to Ridgeley); his mother is Scottish and his father is of Italian/Egyptian descent. Ridgeley grew up in Bushey, Hertfordshire, and attended Bushey Meads School. His mother was a schoolteacher at Bushey Heath Primary School while his father worked for Canon. When George Michael enrolled at school, Ridgeley volunteered to take him under his wing.
After years of playing in various music groups, most notably The Executive, Michael and Ridgeley formed the duo Wham!. Michael was lead vocalist and primary songwriter and played keyboards, while Ridgeley played guitar and performed backup vocals. They approached various record labels with a homemade tape – which took 10 minutes to record in Ridgeley's living room – and signed with Innervision Records. After one album the duo signed with CBS.