Bowie David, born David Robert Jones, *8 January 1947, Brixton (near London), †10 January 2016, New York, British singer, guitarist, composer, songwriter, producer, actor. In 1962, he made his debut in the amateur band George and the Dragons; in 1963, he led his own band, with which he made his first recordings (1964). He achieved significant success in 1969 with the song Space Oddity. In 1970, he became the frontman of a band later named The Spiders from Mars. Bowie’s other big hits include: Young Americans, Fame (1975), Let’s Dance (1983), This is not America (1985), Absolute Beginners (1987). He collaborated with artists from the worlds of rock, pop, electronic music (B. Eno), and jazz (including D. Sanborn and P. Metheny). He appeared as an actor in many feature films, including The Man Who Fell to Earth (directed by N. Roeg, 1976), The Hunger (directed by T. Scott, 1982), Absolute Beginners (directed by J. Temple, 1986).
Bowie was one of the most distinctive icons of pop music in the 1970s and 1980s. His vocal style and repertoire – from rock ‘n’ roll, R&B, various types of rock, soul, funk, and dance music to cabaret songs and poetic ballads – changed with new trends. With modest vocal abilities, he constantly created his stage image (elaborate costumes, hairstyles, theatrical effects). In the 1980s, he gained popularity with stylish music videos featuring rhythmic, modern arrangements (China Girl, Let’s Dance); in the following decade, he experimented with electronic sounds, combining them with funk, hip-hop, and elements of jazz (including the album Black Tie White Noise, 1993).
