David Bowie, Musical Icon Who Influenced A Generation Of Artists, Dies of Cancer

David Bowie, who spent a career reinventing himself and, in the process, dramatically influencing a generation of musicians and other entertainers by transforming personal and artistic eccentricities to cultural norms, died Sunday of cancer. He was 69.

The boundary-busting entertainer and actor’s death came just two days after releasing his 25th album, the critically acclaimed and haunting “Blackstar.”

Bowie’s passing was confirmed on his Facebook page:

“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.”

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Reaction immediately poured in, not just from the music industry but across all of entertainment and pop culture, after news of his death came in the middle of the night in America.

“David Bowie was someone who people of my age, and those quite a bit older, felt we grew up with,” British Prime Minister David Cameron said in a tribute posted to Facebook.

“He was also a master of reinvention, who kept getting it right, leaving a body of work that people will still be listening to in a 100 years time. He was someone who truly deserves to be described as a genius.”

An artist who shaped pop music by daring it to follow him to new places, Bowie remained innovative and influential to the end.

As “Ziggy Stardust,” Bowie became the icon of 70s glam rock. He followed that up with the self-described “plastic soul” of the album “Young Americans,” including the hit song “Fame.”

“David Bowie was one of my most important inspirations,” rapper Kanye West tweeted. ”So fearless, so creative, he gave us magic for a lifetime.”

“You were my all time. You were the greatest,” actor Will Arnett tweeted. We’ll miss you more than you’ll ever know. #DavidBowie We’re all Aladdin Sane.”

Through the course of his career, Bowie teamed up with everyone from Mick Jagger to Brian Eno and the band Queen. During his last American tour in the early 2000s, Bowie played to sold-out stadium crowds.

“RIP David. I loved your music. I loved you,” actor Russell Crowe tweeted. “One of the greatest performance artists to have ever lived.”

“Very sad news to wake up to on this raining morning. David was a great star and I treasure the moments we had together,” Paul McCartney said in a statement posted on his website.

“His music played a very strong part in British musical history and I’m proud to think of the huge influence he has had on people all around the world.”

Bowie’s final album, “Blackstar” is as avant garde as anything in a nearly 50-year career characterized by testing genres. The title song is a strangely beautiful blend of cosmic rock, jazz and ballad. More than nine minutes long, it, like the entire album, is marked by the imagery of dread and death.

In the refrain, Bowie croons,

“Something happened on the day he died

Spirit rose a metre and stepped aside

Somebody else took his place, and bravely cried

I’m a blackstar, I’m a star’s star, I’m a blackstar”

Photo: Wikimedia Commons