David Bowie, born David Robert Jones on January 8, 1947, in Brixton, London, was a pioneering English musician, actor, and cultural icon whose career spanned over five decades. Bowie is widely known for his distinctive voice, eclectic music styles, and ever-changing personas, which influenced generations of artists across music, fashion, and performance art. He passed away on January 10, 2016, two days after his 69th birthday and the release of his final album Blackstar, due to liver cancer.

In 1962, Bowie formed his first band, the Konrads, at age 15. In 1967, he released his self-titled debut album David Bowie, which failed commercially. In 1969, he gained attention with the single “Space Oddity,” coinciding with the Apollo 11 moon landing. By 1972, Bowie released The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars, introducing his alter-ego Ziggy Stardust, a glam-rock alien persona that made him a global superstar. In 1975, Bowie’s Young Americans album marked his shift to “plastic soul” and included the hit “Fame,” co-written with John Lennon. In 1976, he moved to Berlin and began his “Berlin Trilogy,” a trio of albums (Low, Heroes, Lodger) co-produced with Brian Eno, which incorporated experimental music and electronic elements. In 1983, he released Let’s Dance, a mainstream pop album that brought him commercial success and included hits like “Let’s Dance” and “China Girl.” Throughout the 1990s and 2000s, Bowie continued to experiment with different styles, including industrial and electronic music, while maintaining his status as a cultural figure. In 2004, he suffered a heart attack and scaled back public appearances. In 2016, Bowie released his final album Blackstar just days before his death, an album now seen as a reflection on his mortality.

David Bowie changed his name to avoid confusion with Davy Jones of The Monkees. His signature mismatched eye color (anisocoria) was due to a teenage fight that left one pupil permanently dilated. He played the Goblin King in Jim Henson’s 1986 film Labyrinth, a cult classic. Bowie was heavily involved in the visual aspects of his performances and worked with fashion designers, including Kansai Yamamoto, to create his iconic looks. In 1996, he became the first major artist to sell bonds against his future royalties, known as “Bowie Bonds.” He declined a knighthood in 2003, stating that he never had the intention to accept such honors.

David Bowie drew inspiration from a wide range of sources, both musical and non-musical. Early influences included rock ‘n’ roll pioneers like Little Richard and Elvis Presley. The theatricality of his stage personas drew heavily from avant-garde theater, mime (he studied under mime artist Lindsay Kemp), and cinema. His interest in science fiction and futurism also shaped his work, especially during his Ziggy Stardust era. Bowie’s time in Berlin and his collaboration with Brian Eno were inspired by the burgeoning electronic and Krautrock scenes, including bands like Kraftwerk and Neu!. He also incorporated soul, funk, and jazz into his work at different points, making him a truly versatile and ever-evolving artist.