Bowie << BOH ee >>, David (1947-2016), was an English rock musician and composer famous for his bizarre costumes in concerts and for his experimentation with many musical styles and themes. Much of Bowie’s music dealt with such unconventional topics as suicide and extraterrestrial visions. Bowie was one of the most creative figures in rock music history. He also earned respect as a serious actor.
Bowie was born on Jan. 8, 1947, in London. His real name was David Robert Jones. He first attracted attention with his hit recording “Space Oddity” (1969). His reputation grew with his album The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars (1972). The album describes the rise and fall of a rock star. He made his debut as a motion-picture actor in The Virgin Soldiers (1969). He gained fame for his performance as an alien from outer space in the science-fiction film The Man Who Fell to Earth (1976). Bowie received praise for his performance on Broadway in the drama The Elephant Man (1980).
Bowie’s hit records included “Fame” (1975), “Heroes” (1977), “Let’s Dance” (1983), “Modern Love” (1983), “Without You” (1984), and “Day-In Day-Out” (1987). He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996. Bowie’s major films included The Hunger (1983), Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence (1983), The Last Temptation of Christ (1988), Basquiat (1995), and August (2008). The off-Broadway musical Lazarus, written by Bowie and the Irish playwright Enda Walsh, premiered in December 2015. It centered on the character created by Bowie in The Man Who Fell to Earth. Bowie died on Jan. 10, 2016, soon after the release of his final album, Blackstar (2016). The album became Bowie’s first number-one hit. Bowie’s son, Duncan Jones, is a motion-picture director.
