David Bowie GONE At 69

Kate King

David Bowie died yesterday at the aged of 69. He'd had cancer for a while, but kept it pretty much a secret.

He was the Thin White Duke, Ziggy Stardust, The Chameleon of rock and now he is gone, just two days after his 69^th Birthday and the release of his new album, Black Star.

Born David Jones, he changed his name to David Bowie in 1969 when another David Jones gained fame in a role in the television show “The Monkees.”

David Bowie died yesterday at the aged of 69. He'd had cancer for a while, but kept it pretty much a secret. The official statement said, "David Bowie died peacefully today surrounded by his family after a courageous 18 month battle with cancer. While many of you will share in this loss, we ask that you respect the family's privacy during their time of grief."

As a rock legend and music icon, Bowie's career spanned over 40 years with an amazing number of great songs. Believe it or not, Bowie only had two #1 songs in America . . . "Fame" in 1975, and "Let's Dance" in 1983. Other Bowie classics include "Space Oddity", "Changes", "Rebel Rebel", "Young Americans", "Golden Years", "Heroes", "Modern Love", and "Under Pressure" with Queen and many more.

David Bowie was a master at reinventing himself, and not just musically. With his different-colored eyes (the result of a schoolyard fight) Bowie segued from music into movie roles, and he starred as an alien seeking help for his dying planet in “The Man Who Fell to Earth” and on Broadway as the misshapen lead in 1980’s “The Elephant Man.” He also starred opposite Jennifer Connelly as Jareth the Goblin King in the 1986 cult favorite Labyrinth, directed by Jim Henson.

David Bowie always embraced technology and became the first rock star to morph into an Internet Service Provider with the launch in September 1998 of BowieNet.

David Bowie was not just a creative genius, but he was a true gentleman and on a personal note, one of the most gracious interviews I’ve ever done in my life, when he called me from his home in Switzerland. He was very warm and accommodating while a lot of other rockers were less than that.

David is survived by his wife, the model Iman, whom he married in 1992; his son, director Duncan Jones; and daughter Alexandria.

He was a great part of the soundtrack of our lives and leaves an incredibly rich body of work.

Rest In Peace, David, rest in peace.