A music icon like David Bowie, who has a unique presence in contemporary culture, should be difficult to evade your attention. Considered the greatest rock star of all time, the legendary singer and songwriter conquered the world musically with his superclassic performances and songs.
For nearly five decades, Bowie remained one of the most original and unique voices in rock & roll. Often referred to as his own work of art and creation, Bowie was also a fashion icon, an actor, an art collector, and a painter who always remained unpredictable. Here’s an in-depth look at the legendary singer’s life, prolific music career, and legacy.
Early life
David Bowie was born on January 8th, 1947 in Brixton, London, England. He is the son of Margaret Mary “Peggy” and Haywood Stenton “John” Jones. Bowie attended Burnt Ash Junior School and Bromley Technical High School, where he studied art, music and design. From an early age he showed his creative abilities and interest in music. As a teenager, he learned to play multiple instruments including the ukulele, tea chest bass, and piano. In 1967, Bowie enrolled in dance classes with dancer Lindsay Kemp at the London Dance Centre. Under Kemp he also studied acting from avant-garde theater and pantomime to commedia dell’arte.
career achievements
Bowie’s music career began as a teenager with a band he formed that performed at local gatherings and ceremonies. The band struggled to carve out a niche in the music industry and endured a turbulent few years. David Bowie’s debut album of the same name, released in 1967, was quite unsuccessful as it fared poorly in the market. However, his first breakthrough came two years later with his single Raum Kuriosität . The song, which was a huge hit, brought Bowie a lot of exposure in the music industry.
Bowie’s most popular and greatest album of all time would be 1972’s The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and The Spiders from Mars which was his fifth studio album. The album, which is considered one of the greatest albums of all time, is based on the story of a fictional rock star named Ziggy Stardust. The album, which rightly placed Bowie as a superstar peak at No. 5 in the UK and No. 75 in the US on the Billboard Music Charts, went on to go platinum and gold in the UK and US respectively.
Although his efforts in the 1990s and 2000s weren’t as successful as in previous years, Bowie wasn’t resting on his laurels, instead winning more and more hearts in the industry with his super-mercury stagecraft. His successful albums during this period include Drout (1995), Erdling (1997), Std.. . (1999), Pagans (2002), Reality (2003) and The Next Day (2013) .
Bowie also had a successful acting career. Some of his notable film credits include The Hunger , Mr. Lawrence , Jazzin’ for Blue Jean , and Merry Christmas .
Given the worldwide success of Bowie’s music, it’s no surprise that he’s received a multitude of awards for his immense contributions to the industry during his lifetime and even beyond. Overall, the legendary singer received 9 platinum, 11 gold and 8 silver album certifications in the UK. During his residency in the United States, he received 5 platinum and 9 gold certifications. In addition, David Bowie has received six Grammy Awards, multiple Brit Awards and other prestigious awards in the entertainment industry. In 1996, Bowie was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
His works have also been recognized and honored worldwide by some governments. In 1999, the French government honored him with the highest order (Commander) of the prestigious Ordre des Arts et des Lettres. He was also posthumously awarded the Brits Icon Award by the UK Government in 2016 for his lasting influence on British culture.
Who is the wife, daughter, son?
David Bowie was married twice in his life. His first marriage was to Mary Angela Barnett, a model and actress. The couple married in March 1970 but the marriage broke up in February 1980. David and Mary’s union gave birth to a son, Duncan Zowie Jones, born May 30, 1971.
Bowie’s second marriage was to Iman Abdulmajid, aSomali-American model. The lovebirds officially tied the knot in April 1992 in a private ceremony in Lausanne, Switzerland. Their union produced a daughter, Alexandria Zahra Jones, born August 2000.
Is David Bowie dead? cause of death
David Bowie died on January 10, 2016, two days after his 69th birthday. For his 69th birthday, the unpredictable singer released his 25th and final studio album – a jazz and hip-hop record called Schwarzer Stern . The news of his death came as quite a shock to many around the world, but it was later revealed that Bowie had been secretly battling cancer for several months before eventually losing the battle with the disease.
Wealth (income and earnings)
With numerous successful albums and amazingDavid Bowie, the stage artist, amassed a huge fortune for himself. Upon his death, the legendary singer reportedly left a massive inheritance valued at $100 million for his wife and children. While Bowie benevolently left half of his net worth and his luxury SoHo New York apartment to his wife, he left each of his two children, Duncan Jones and Alexandria Jones, 25 percent of his estate. Interestingly, Bowie’s legacy wasn’t just for family members to enjoy. Surprisingly, the singer left his longtime assistant Corinne Schwab $2 million and stock, and gifted Alexandria’s one-time nanny Marion Skene $1 million.