David Robert Jones OAL (/boi/ BOH-ee), better known by his stage name David Bowie (/boi/ BOH-ee), was an English singer-songwriter and actor who lived from 8 January 1947 until 10 January 2016.
He is widely considered one of the most important artists of the twentieth century, having established himself as a significant figure in the music industry. Bowie was hailed as a pioneering artist by critics and musicians alike, notably for his groundbreaking work throughout the 1970s. His career was characterized by constant reinvention and visual presentation, and his music and stagecraft had a tremendous effect on popular music during his lifetime.
As a kid, David Bowie had a fascination with music. He studied painting, music, and design before beginning his professional musical career in 1963 as a session musician. His debut top-five single on the UK Singles Chart, “Space Oddity,” was released in 1969 and became his first of many top-five hits. His alter persona Ziggy Stardust, who was flamboyant and androgynous, helped him to re-emerge in 1972 during the glam rock era, following a lengthy period of experimenting.
The persona was propelled forward by the success of David Bowie's single “Starman” and the album The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars, which brought him global recognition and acclaim. In 1975, Bowie's style began to shift toward a sound he described as “plastic soul,” which initially alienated many of his UK fans, but ultimately led to his first major US crossover success with the number-one single “Fame” and the album Young Americans, which peaked at number one on the Billboard 200. During the same year, Bowie appeared in a cult film.
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Early Life
David Robert Jones, better known as David Bowie, was born on 8 January 1947 in London. Both of his parents worked in the nonprofit sector: Margaret worked as a waiter and Haywood promoted charities. They relocated from Bickley to Bromley Common, then Sundridge Park, where David performed in the school chorus. Early on, he had a passion for music and began playing the saxophone at the age of thirteen.
He then learned to play the ukulele and tea-chest bass, and eventually the piano. After graduating from Bromley Technical High School at age 15, David started a band called the Konrads. To focus on his music career, he dropped out of high school at the age of 16 and joined the King Bees, where he later met his first manager, Leslie Conn.
Music Career
To prevent confusion with The Monkees' Davy Jones, David began using the name David Bowie instead of Davy/Davie Jones in the mid-1960s. It was June 1, 1967, when he published his self-titled first album, and it peaked at No. 16 in the United States and No. 17 in the United Kingdom when it was reissued as “Space Oddity” in 1972.
“The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars” was published by David Bowie in June of 1972. The album was certified 2x Platinum by the British Phonographic Industry and Gold by the RIAA after spending two years on the charts. Aladdin Sane” (1973), “Pin-Ups” (1973), “Diamond Dogs” (1974), and “Tonight” (1983) were the first of three straight #1 albums for David in the 1970s, followed by “Scary Monsters and Super Creeps,” “Let's Dance,” and “Tonight” (1984).
Acting Career
Throughout his career, David Bowie participated in more than 30 films, television shows, and stage productions. For his role in “The Man Who Fell to Earth,” he was honored with a Saturn Award. On the big screen, he's been in such films as Jim Henson's “Labyrinth” (1986), “The Last Temptation of Christ” (1988), Andy Warhol in “Basquiat” (1996), and Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me” (1999). (1992). The Rutles 2: Can't Buy Me Lunch (2002) and the HBO/BBC Two sitcom “Extras” featured David playing himself (2006).
David Bowie's Net Worth
At the time of his death in 2016, David Bowie was an English musician, singer-songwriter, and actor valued at $230 million USD. His music collection was valued at $100 million as part of that total. This article will go into depth about the $250 million sales of Bowie's publishing portfolio to Warner Chappell by his estate in January 2022.
In his nearly five decades as a famous musician, David Bowie established a reputation for creating both financially and critically successful music that was both original and experimental. To date, his 27 studio albums have sold over 100 million copies, making him one of the most influential rock musicians of all time.
9 of his albums achieved the top spot on the UK album charts. “Fame” and “Young Americans” were David's first significant crossover hits in the United States, and he was recognized by various nicknames, including Ziggy Stardust, The Thin White Duke, Major Tom, The Chameleon of Rock, and The Starman. Additionally, he appeared in the small movie office hit “The Man Who Fell to Earth” that same year on the big screen.
Bowie went on to record a slew of hit songs, including “Under Pressure” (a duet with Queen), “Changes,” “Rebel Rebel,” “Space Oddity,” and “Modern Love. “Under Pressure” was one of several Bowie hits.
Following he was elected into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996, he got a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2006; the day after his death, “Rolling Stone” proclaimed him “The Greatest Rock Star Ever.” Bowie will be regarded as a key figure in popular music for several reasons, including his unique voice, intellectual depth, and eclecticism.
Personal Life
On March 19, 1970, David married Mary Barnett, and on May 30, 1971, they had a son, Duncan Jones, who would go on to be a prominent filmmaker. The divorce between Bowie and Barnett took place in 1980, and David was awarded custody of their son Duncan.
At some point after his divorce from Iman, Bowie married the Somali model Iman and the couple had a daughter named Alexandria together on April 24, 1992. A 1972 “Melody Maker” interview suggested that David was gay, and in a 1976 “Playboy” interview, he acknowledged his bisexuality.
In the 1960s, David Bowie grew fascinated with Buddhism and considered becoming a Buddhist monk. In 2005, he said that he was “not exactly an atheist.” in an interview with Rolling Stone.
Death and Estate
As of January 10, 2016, David has gone away from liver cancer, only two days after turning 69 and releasing his album “Blackstar.” However, he kept his sickness under wraps for 18 months until the world learned of his diagnosis. When David Bowie died, admirers erected monuments at his murals in Brixton as well as Los Angeles, Berlin, and outside his New York residence. During a Buddhist ceremony in Bali, David's ashes were spread on January 12th.
His estate is estimated at $230 million. Iman was given the superstar's SoHo apartment and half of his riches. For Alexandria, who was 15 at the time of her father's death, a trust was established to collect 25 percent of her father's fortune. David also gave Alexandria his vacation property in Ulster County, New York, as well as $2 million to his longtime aide Coco Schwab and $1 million to his son Duncan's childhood nanny, Marion Skene.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Did David Bowie Lose His Eye?
Is there a medical reason for this? Because of an argument over a female, David Bowie got infected with anisocoria, an extreme kind of jealousy. George Underwood was a personal buddy of Bowie's when he was younger. From the time they were nine years old, they had been friends and had stayed so throughout their lives.
What Disease Did David Bowie Have?
David Bowie, the late English singer-songwriter and musician, passed away on January 10th, 2016, in his New York City residence on Lafayette Street after an 18-month battle with liver cancer. A few weeks after the release of Blackstar, which coincided with his 69th birthday; two days after the release of his final studio album.
Did Elvis like Bowie?
Bowie was a tremendous Elvis Presley admirer. Bowie saw it as a sign that they were born on the same day, but when RCA approached him about working with the King, he took it even further. This was a great opportunity for RCA, who manages both artists, to brighten up Elvis' library with a new song that may be a hit with the younger generation.