David Bowie, a shape shifting chameleon in the world of pop music and culture, died January 10 at the age of 69. The super-star and pop-culture icon with hits like Space Oddity (1969), Changes (1971), Let’s Dance (1983) and many others had been diagnosed with cancer 18 months before his death.
CNN reported that Bowie died peacefully and surrounded by his family. He was born in 1947 as David Jones, but changed his name to David Bowie to avoid confusion with the singer of the band the Monkees. As CNN wrote, it was first of many self-transformations for the artist.
Bowie was not only a super-star, creative genius and icon, but he was philanthropist as well. He and his wife, supermodel Iman, supported several HIV/AIDS efforts. Forbes named the organizations which included the “Keep a Child Alive Foundation” and the “I Am African” campaign which aims to provide low-cost medication to HIV/AIDS patients.
Bowie sometimes seemed like a novelty act because he always part of the next big trend, but he always outlasted them. He outlasted these trends because he was dedicated to being creative and because he was always ten steps ahead, even in the end. His song Space Oddity was even covered by Canadian Astronaut Chris Hadfield in 2013 performed in space. You can view that video via Chris Hadfield’s YouTube channel.
Rolling Stone Magazine reported that during the final weeks of his life, Bowie wrote and recorded five new songs
According to Rolling Stone Magazine, Bowie had contacted his producer Tony Visconti nearly a week before his death because he wanted to record another album post-Blackstar. Rolling Stone Magazine reported that during the final weeks of his life, Bowie wrote and recorded five new songs. It is unclear what will be done with these compositions.
You can view Bowie’s music video for Lazarus from his latest album Blackstar here on the artist’s YouTube channel.
