Biography
David Robert Jones, professionally known as David Bowie, was an English singer, songwriter, and actor. He was a prominent figure in popular music for more than fifty years, celebrated by critics and fellow musicians as an innovator, especially for his 1970s work. His career was defined by constant reinvention and striking visual presentation, with his music and stage performances exerting a profound influence on popular music. Throughout his life, he sold an estimated 140 million records worldwide, ranking him among the best-selling music artists globally. In the UK, Bowie earned nine platinum, eleven gold, and eight silver album certifications, with eleven albums reaching number one. In the US, he achieved five platinum and seven gold certifications. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996.
Born and raised in South London, Bowie developed a passion for music as a child. He studied art, music, and design before beginning his professional music career in 1963. His single “Space Oddity,” released in July 1969, was his first to reach the UK top five. After a period of artistic experimentation, he re-emerged in 1972 with the glam rock persona Ziggy Stardust, a flamboyant and androgynous character. This alter ego brought him widespread fame, propelled by the success of the single “Starman” and the album The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars.
In 1975, Bowie dramatically changed his style to what he called “plastic soul,” initially alienating many UK fans but earning his first significant US crossover hit with the number-one single “Fame” and the album Young Americans. In 1976, he starred in the cult film The Man Who Fell to Earth and released the album Station to Station. The following year, he surprised audiences again with the electronic-influenced album Low (1977), the first of three collaborations with Brian Eno known as the Berlin Trilogy. This was followed by Heroes (1977) and Lodger (1979); all three albums reached the UK top five and received enduring critical acclaim.
After mixed commercial success in the late 1970s, Bowie achieved UK number ones with the 1980 single “Ashes to Ashes,” its album Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps), and the 1981 collaboration with Queen, “Under Pressure.” His commercial peak came in 1983 with Let's Dance, whose title track topped charts in both the UK and US. During the 1990s and 2000s, Bowie continued to explore diverse musical styles, including industrial and jungle.
Bowie also maintained an acting career, with notable roles such as Major Celliers in Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence (1983), the Goblin King Jareth in Labyrinth (1986), Pontius Pilate in The Last Temptation of Christ (1988), and Nikola Tesla in The Prestige (2006), among various other film and TV appearances. He ceased concert touring after 2004, with his final live performance at a charity event in 2006.
After a decade-long break from recording, Bowie returned in 2013 with the album The Next Day. He remained musically active until his death from liver cancer two days after releasing his final album, Blackstar, in 2016.
18 wins and 26 nominations
