David Bowie left us just two days after his 69th birthday and the day his latest album “BlackStar” (★) was released—as if he was waiting to complete his final project.
With a career that spanned six decades, for many of us, if we dig back through our memories chances are David Bowie is there somewhere along the way playing a part as a singer, musician, songwriter, actor, and more—a powerful influence behind a huge chunk of the music of our age.
David Bowie sits holding a cigarette in Cannes, May, 1983. AP Photo
An undated photo of British singer and actor David Bowie. AP Photo
David Bowie appears on a giant screen with various costumes he performed in, as part of a retrospective David Bowie exhibition, entitled David Bowie Is, at the V&A Museum in west London, March 20, 2013, that features 300 objects including handwritten lyrics, original costumes, fashion, photography, film, music videos, set designs and Bowie's own instruments. Joel Ryan/Invision/AP
Director Duncan Jones (L) and his father David Bowie arrive for the premiere of "Moon" during the Tribeca Film Festival at the BMCC Tribeca Performing Arts Center April 30, 2009 in New York. AP Photo/Jason DeCrow
David Bowie in 1987. AP Photo
David Bowie attends an awards show in this June 5, 2007, New York. Bowie announced on Jan. 8, 2013 his 66th birthday, that he has released his first song in 10 years titled "Where Are We Now?" A new album, "The Next Day," came out in March. AP Photo/Stephen Chernin
Model Iman and husband David Bowie laugh as arrive at the Vanity Fair Tribeca Film Festival Party, April 24, 2007 in New York. AP Photo/Dima Gavrysh
Glam rocker David Bowie seen in 1973 during his Ziggy Stardust period. AP Photo
Deborah Harry of the rock band Blondie visits David Bowie backstage at the Booth Theater where he was starring in "The Elephant Man," Nov. 1980. AP Photo/Nancy Kaye
In this June 6, 2005 file photo, singer David Bowie and his wife Iman pose at the 2005 CFDA Fashion Awards in New York. AP Photo/Stuart Ramson, File
David Bowie performs at the 2nd annual Audi and Conde Nast Publications "Never Follow" campaign which honored his achievements in music, May 3, 2004, in New York. AP Photo/Louis Lanzano
In this Dec. 15, 2003 file photo, singer/songwriter David Bowie launches his United States leg of his worldwide tour called "A Reality Tour," at Madison Square Garden in New York. AP Photo/Kathy Willens, File
Iman husband singer David Bowie arrive at the 2002 Council of Fashion Designers of America Fashion Awards, Monday, June 3, 2002, in New York. Iman is wearing vintage earrings that Bowie gave her for their 10th wedding anniversary. AP Photo/Suzanne Plunkett
David Bowie kicked off the benefit "Concert for New York," with a rendition of Paul Simon's "America," at New York's Madison Square Garden, Saturday, Oct. 20, 2001. (AP Photo/Beth A. Keiser
Rock 'n' roll legend David Bowie waves to the crowd after receiving the 2,083rd star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in the Hollywood district of Los Angeles Wednesday, Feb. 12, 1997. Bowie had just released his latest album, "Earthling." AP Photo/Chris Pizzello
Rock and roll legend David Bowie gestures to the crowd before receiving the 2,083rd star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in the Hollywood section of Los Angeles, Feb. 12, 1997, as his wife, supermodel Iman, looks on. AP Photo/Chris Pizzello
David Bowie performs during a concert celebrating his 50th birthday, at Madison Square Garden in New York, Jan. 9, 1997. AP Photo/Ron Frehm, File
In this Sept. 14, 1995, file photo, David Bowie performs in Hartford, Conn. AP Photo/Bob Child, File
David Bowie is seen with Iman smiling in 1991. The couple married in Lausanne on April 24, 1992. AP Photo, file
Singer/songwriter David Bowie performs during his Sound+Vision tour at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, May 26, 1990. Bowie's tour highlights his entire career and incorporates a large video screen that spotlights different phases of the performer's past. AP Photo/Sam Jones
David Bowie plays an acoustic guitar while being photographed at a press conference in Tokyo on May 19, 1990. AP Photo
David Bowie performs during the first show of his "Sound and Vision" world tour in Quebec City on Sunday, March 4, 1990. AP Photo/Jacques Boissinot
Singer David Bowie performs before an estimated 61,000 fans Sept. 3, 1987 at Sullivan Stadium in Foxboro, Mass. AP Photo/stf-Elise Amendola
Rocker David Bowie, right, points to the hamburger that he wants for lunch during a barbecue for his crew at Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia, July 27, 1987. Bowie was in Philly to kickoff the U.S. portion of his "Glass Spider" tour. AP Photo/Charles Krupa
David Bowie sings and points toward the crowd during his concert at Wembley Stadium on Saturday, June 20, 1987. AP Photo
David Bowie performs during his concert at Wembley Stadium on Saturday, June 20, 1987. AP Photo
David Bowie performs on stage at London's Wembley Stadium during the Live Aid famine relief rock concert, July 13, 1985. AP Photo/Joe Schaber
Rock star David Bowie performs on stage at Wembley Stadium, London, July 13, 1985, during the Live Aid famine relief rock concert. AP Photo/Joe Schaber
Paul McCartney, center, and his wife Linda McCartney, applaud David Bowie (L) and Bob Geldof (R) at the end of the London part of the Live Aid famine relief concert at Wembley Stadium, July 13, 1985. At far left is Pete Townsend of The Who. The concert continued being broadcast around the world on TV from Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Joe Schaber))
Rock superstar David Bowie, making his first musical performance in America in half a decade, performs on stage at the U.S. Festival on May 31, 1983 at Glen Helen Regional Park in Devore, Calif. Bowie performed on closing night at the festival. AP Photo/stf/Lennox McLendon
The team that created the film "Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence" is pictured in Paris, May 11, 1983. From left: Jack Thomas, producer; Ryuichi Sakamoto, musical composer; David Bowie, star, and Nagisa Oshima, director. AP Photo/Jacques Langevin
David Bowie is seen during a press photo call at a hotel in London, March 17, 1983. Bowie is due to release a new album and national tour later in the year. AP Photo/Redman
Singer Linda Ronstadt visits British rocker David Bowie backstage during his break in the Broadway play "The Elephant Man," at the Booth Theater in New York, Dec. 5, 1980. AP Photo/Richard Drew
Rock star turned actor David Bowie is seen rehearsing a scene in the Broadway show "The Elephant Man," Sept. 17, 1980. Bowie plays the title role. AP Photo/Marty Lederhandler
David Bowie is shown as he prepares for an appearance on ABC-TV's "Good Morning America", in New York, Sept. 3, 1980. AP Photo/Dave Pickoff
David Bowie laughs while attending a party during the 31st International Film Festival in Cannes on Tuesday, May 24, 1978. AP Photo/Levy
Actress Moniqye Van Vooren and Rock Singer David Bowie attend rhe movie premier of "Close Encounters Of A Third Kind" at New York's Ziegfeld Theater Tuesday night, November 15, 1977. AP Photo
David Bowie visits his attorney before his city court appearance in Rochester to answer to charges of illegal possession of drugs, Thursday, March 25, 1976. Bowie was arrested early on Sunday, March 21, 1976, folowing a concert in Rochester. AP Photo
British glam rocker David Bowie performs at New York's Radio City Music Hall, Nov. 1, 1974. AP Photo/Suzanne Vlamis
This is an Oct., 1972 photo of British singer David Bowie. AP Photo
