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English singer, songwriter and radio personality who rose to global fame in the 1980s. Born in Newton-le-Willows, England, Astley achieved international success with his 1987 debut single 'Never Gonna Give You Up'. He retired from music in 1993 but experienced a cultural resurgence in the 2000s through the 'Rickrolling' internet meme.

• Astley abruptly retired from music at age 27 in 1993 to raise his daughter, despite having eight UK Top 10 hits, leaving fans and industry insiders stunned.
• His signature song 'Never Gonna Give You Up' became the foundation of the 'Rickrolling' meme in 2007, where unsuspecting internet users were redirected to its music video, making him a viral phenomenon decades after its release.
• In a surprising career twist, Astley performed 'Never Gonna Give You Up' live at the 2008 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade after winning MTV's 'Best Act Ever' award due to the meme's popularity.
• He publicly declined a $1 million offer to rickroll a New Year's Eve event in 2008, citing a desire to protect his family's privacy amid the meme's overwhelming attention.