David Robert Jones
David Bowie
January 8, 1947 - January 10, 2016
English singer, songwriter, and actor
Genres - Art Rock, Glam Rock, Pop, Electronic
Although his music career began in 1962 with failed singles and a self-titled solo album (1967), David Bowie did not truly break through until "Space Oddity" in 1969 (Top 5 on UK Singles).
In 1972, David stepped into the glam rock era with the alter ego Ziggy Stardust.
In 1975, Bowie defined a unique sound as "plastic soul," which lost UK fans but gained U.S. attention with the No. 1 "Fame" and the album Young Americans.
In the late 1970s, Bowie focused on electronic elements in his musical style, collaborating with the English musician, Brian Eno, on what would be the Berlin Trilogy - Low (1977), Heroes (1977), and Lodger (1979). Each reached the UK Top Five and received critical acclaim.
The 1980s found great success for David Bowie -
"Ashes to Ashes" & Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps)
"Under Pressure" (1981 collaboration with Queen)
Let's Dance (1983)
David Bowie stepped down from touring in 2004. His last performance was at a charity event in 2006.
David Bowie's return to the studio was in 2013 with The Next Day. His final album, Blackstar, was released just two days before his passing in 2016.
David Bowie was one of the best-selling musicians of all time, with over 100 million records sold worldwide. As of 2022, Bowie was the best-selling vinyl artist of the 21st Century.
In his lifetime, David Bowie won 6 Grammy Awards, 4 Brit Awards, 1 Ivor Novello Special Award.
Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996
Inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2005
Inducted into the Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame (2013)
Bowie was nicknamed the "chameleon of rock" for his constant musical reinventions.
The above notes are highlights covering David Bowie's musical career. Read in detail on Wikipedia.
Consider David Bowie's posthumous releases.
Outside of music, Bowie was known for his other artistic talent - painting post-modernist images. He sketched on tours and took to photography for reference. He frequently visited galleries in Geneva Switzerland and in Berlin, Germany.
"...well-known patron of expressionist art...self-improvement course in classical music and literature...started work on an autobiography..."
Aside from music and artistic endeavors, Bowie took to writing with such projects as I Am Iman (2001), The 100 Greatest Rock 'n' Roll Photographs (2002, Q special), Moonage Daydream (2002, Genesis Publications memoir of the Ziggy Stardust years, released in 2022), and more. He further wrote liner notes for albums from a variety of artists.
David Bowie's passing left an imprint on pop culture and the music industry. Legacy
Special Honors -
- Commander of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (France, 1999)
- Honorary Doctorate from Berklee College of Music
Point of intrigue - David Bowie declined the offered Royal honors of Commander of the Order of the British Empire (2000) and Knighthood (2003). "...It's not what I spent my life working for..."
Noted Album Certifications
UK - 11 Gold, 8 Silver, 9 Platinum
U.S. - 9 Gold, 5 Platinum
Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time (2020)
- The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars (40)
- Station to Station (52)
- Hunky Dory (88)
- Low (206)
- Scary Monsters (443)
Rolling Store's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time (2021)
- "Heroes" (23)
- "Life on Mars?" (105)
- "Space Oddity" (189)
- "Changes" (200)
- "Young Americans" (204)
- "Station to Station" (400)
- "Under Pressure" (429)
Recognition
- No. 39 on Rolling Stone's 100 Greatest Artists of All Time (2004)/
No. 39 on Greatest Songwriters of All Time/
No. 32 on 200 Greatest Singers of All Time
- Best-dressed Briton in history (BBC History poll, 2013)
- "the greatest rock star ever" (Rolling Stone, Rob Sheffield, 2016)
Highlights. Highlights capture the moment but gloss over the full story. Set List is only available to highlight or will lose interest among readers and passersby. Links are key to unlocking the full story.
David Bowie was, nor ever, a highlight. His story is one to be told in full, to better appreciate his early years, accomplishments, and legacy past his living years.
Peruse the highlights. Follow the links. Read more on Wikipedia...
...Follow your own research beyond the screen.
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