On Jan. 10, 2016, the world not only lost an amazing musician, actor and artist, but also his array of unique characters, which has inspired five generations of music lovers and outcasts.
David Bowie, born David “Davey” Jones, passed away peacefully at home after an 18-month battle with cancer, his publicist released to CNN. Bowie’s career notably began in the United States with his release of The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars in 1972. His first number one single came in 1975 with “Fame.” Bowie went on to sell more than 130 million records and influence modern musicians including Lady Gaga and also Kanye West, who tweeted, “David Bowie was one of my most important inspirations, so fearless, so creative. [He] gave us magic for a lifetime.”
Only two days before his passing Bowie released his final album, Blackstar, on his 69th birthday. The album topped the charts in the U.K. and the U.S., leaving fans with a beautiful and mystical final memory of the artist. The album is extremely powerful and shows that Bowie wanted to take his fans to the very end of his life, and inspire them even further.
David Bowie was a voice that set a new standard for what music could be. Creating theatrical characters tailored to his unique voice, he spoke to the unconscious emotions of fans through the generations. His genius was praised by critics for an effortless combination of musical elements and transitions between genres, and his presence appreciated by non-fans for being timelessly cool. He will be missed and appreciated for generations to come.