Biography Series Pick: Who Was David Bowie?

 

Who Was David Bowie? 

Who HQ series 

by Margaret Gurevich

Illustrations by Andrew Thomson

Penguin Workshop 

2022

107 pages

ISBN: 9871524787561

A young boy named David Robert Jones became the most famous rock star of his time and influenced the music industry and inspired artists for decades. His influence is still witnessed today in art, fashion, music and performances by artists including Lady Gaga and Boy George. 

Born in England in 1947, David grew up listening to American musicians like Little Richard and Elvis Presley. He loved everything American including American football. He worked and saved his money and bought a guitar at age eleven. He taught himself to play and chose Bromley Technical School as his secondary school due to its music and art programs. At age sixteen, David saw his first concert: his idol Little Richard. He was entrhalled with Richard's lively stage antics.

David also learned to play the saxophone, piano and ukulele. He joined several bands and had and had a little success, but nothing seemed to help him take off. That was until he changed his name to David Bowie, after the Bowie knife, which David called "the ultimate American knife." 

After seeing Kubrik's famous film 2001: A Space Oddity, David wrote and sang "A Space Oddity." It was produced by Mercury Records, a brand new label. Because Americans had launched Apollo 11 to the moon, American stations wouldn't air the song until the astronauts were safely back on earth, In Britain, however, stations began playing it. The song eventually reached #5 on the British song charts. 

David got a new manager and found new bandmates. They dressed in silver sparkly jumpsuits and David became known for his "glam rock" appearance. Because of his innovative and artistic persona, David was gaining traction, It wasn't until he created his alter ego Ziggy Stardust that he truly became known worldwide. 

Later, David not only produced music, he had to leave  London and move to Manhattan with his wife, supermodel Iman and their daughter. There they could walk around and no one bothered them for autographs or photos. Sadly, David Bowie died of liver cancer in January of 2016. The world was shocked. Even his closest friends had no idea he was sick. 

Known today as a "trailblazer" and a rock god, David Bowie changed music forever. 

Highly recommended for biography section in all libraries. Great for middle school and up. Anyone studying music and artists will love this book. It includes a Timeline of David's life and a bibliography,