David Bowie’s Life in Pictures: Photos of the Music Icon in Honor of His 79th Birthday

Though he came into this world as David Robert Jones, he left as David Bowie. Take a look at some of the moments in Bowie’s life and legendary impact on music.

Today, January 8, would have been David Bowie’s 79th birthday and when he passed away in 2016, he left behind an artistic legacy that may never be seen again. After developing a love for rock and roll – thanks to artists like Fats Domino, Elvis Presley, and Little Richard – David began pursuing a career in music in the early 1960s, adopting the stage name David Bowie, as not to be confused with Davy Jones of The Monkees.

After his self-titled debut album failed to make an impact, Bowie found breakthrough success with Space Oddity, the haunting tale of Major Tom and ground control. The song launched a career defined by constant reinvention, as Bowie moved fluidly through psychedelia, glam rock, soul, electronic music, and experimental art rock. Along the way, he became a cultural icon — celebrated for his bold fashion, boundary-pushing personas, and fearless exploration of identity and gender expression.

In his personal life, Bowie became a father in 1971, welcoming son Duncan Jones with his first wife, Angie Bowie. In 1992, he married supermodel Iman, and the couple later welcomed a daughter, Lexi Jones, in 2000. Their marriage lasted until Bowie’s death in 2016.

Take a look at some of the moments in Bowie’s life, one that lasted nearly seven decades but, still feels like it ended too soon.

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