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Welcome to Watchmojo.com,

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and today we are taking a look at [br]the life and career of David Bowie.

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David Robert Jones was born on January 8th, [br]1947 in Brixton, London, England.

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Though he showed musical [br]interest at a young age,

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it was only in the early 60s [br]that he really pursued the art.

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He started by joining several blues bands,

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but branched off on his own [br]when they had little success.

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Renaming himself David Bowie, [br]he released his self-titled debut in 1967.

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Its lack of success led Bowie to participate [br]in a promotional film called

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"Love You till Tuesday,"

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which showcased several of his songs.

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Of particular interest was "Space Oddity."

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That track became a hit after it was released [br]at the same time as the first moon landing.

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His sophomore effort of the same name, [br]however, was another commercial disappointment.

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To promote his third album, [br]The Man Who Sold the World,

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Bowie was put in a dress to capitalize [br]on his androgynous look.

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In 1971, a pop-influenced record called [br]Hunky Dory came out

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and was followed by the creation of his [br]flamboyant Ziggy Stardust persona

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and stage show with backing band, [br]The Spiders from Mars.

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Then came his breakthrough record,

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The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust [br]and the Spiders from Mars,

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which climbed the charts thanks to his performance[br]of the single, "Starman" on "Top of the Pops."

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1973's Aladdin Sane was [br]his first number one album,

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mixing a hard rock sound with styles [br]such as avant-garde jazz.

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The Spiders from Mars were disbanded [br]shortly thereafter.

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After the covers album, Pin Ups, turned Bowie [br]into the UK's best-selling artist,

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the funky concept record, Diamond Dogs, [br]featuring the hit, "Rebel Rebel," was released.

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The elaborate stage shows for the tour that followed,

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as well as the worsening state of Bowie's health [br]due to his cocaine addiction,

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would later be seen in the documentary, [br]"Cracked Actor."

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1975 saw the release of Young Americans,

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an album that was less glam rock and more soul.

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This album spawned his first U.S. hit,

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a track that was written with John Lennon, "Fame."

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His next album, Station to Station, [br]featured the song, "Golden Years,"

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and introduced another alter ego, [br]the Thin White Duke.

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This persona resembled his character [br]in the 1976 movie,

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"The Man Who Fell to Earth."

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Up next was a trio of albums recorded [br]with Brian Eno known as the Berlin Trilogy,

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beginning with 1977's Low.

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This ambient and abstract album produced [br]the UK hit, "Sound and Vision."

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This was followed by a more pop rock [br]but still minimalist album called Heroes,

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whose title track later became [br]a Bowie signature tune.

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And in 1979, with his drug addiction [br]now behind him, Bowie released Lodger,

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which contained new wave [br]and world music elements.

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1980's Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps) [br]featured the hit, "Ashes to Ashes,"

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which was accompanied [br]by an iconic music video.

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Bowie's career leapt to new heights in 1983 [br]with the success of the album, Let's Dance,

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and the music videos for the singles, [br]"Modern Love"

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and "China Girl."

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High sales continued with [br]the dance-inspired Tonight,

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an album that featured the Top 10 hit, [br]"Blue Jean."

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In 1985, the music video for Bowie's duet [br]with Mick Jagger, "Dancing in the Street,"

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was debuted at Live Aid.

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Two years later, Bowie released the more [br]techno-based album, Never Let Me Down,

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that featured the single, "Day-In, Day-Out."

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Bowie took on a number of [br]acting roles during the '80s.

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Examples include a Broadway production [br]of "The Elephant Man,"

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and the films, "Absolute Beginners," [br]"Labyrinth,"

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and "The Last Temptation of Christ."

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At the end of the 80s, Bowie fronted [br]a band called Tin Machine,

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which recorded two studio albums.

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But, they dissolved in 1992.

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Bowie then returned to his solo career [br]with the jazzier album,

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Black Tie White Noise, in 1993.

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This was closely followed by the soundtrack [br]for a television series called

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The Buddha of Suburbia.

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In 1995, Bowie brought industrial elements [br]to the mix with the album Outside.

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He gained more critical [br]and commercial success

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with the techno-infused sounds [br]of 1997's Earthling.

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1999 saw the release of an album [br]with more rock tracks entitled "Hours..."

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This was followed by the critically [br]and commercially acclaimed Heathen in 2002

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and another successful record [br]in 2003 called Reality.

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Emergency heart surgery [br]in 2004 forced Bowie to slow down,

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so in the latter half of the decade,

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he recorded only a few songs [br]and played a couple of gigs.

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Bowie continued to act [br]while he released albums.

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Some of his most notable [br]film appearances include

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"Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me,"

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"Mr. Rice’s Secret," "Zoolander," [br]and "The Prestige."

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A true chameleon of the music world,

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David Bowie has incorporated many [br]different styles to make his own.

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With his distinctive voice [br]and extravagant stage shows,

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he is surely an artist who will continue [br]to be influential throughout the ages.