The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame legend, David Bowie passed away on Sunday at the age of 69. As a trailblazing icon, from fashion to music to acting, the death of David Bowie sent a chill throughout an entire culture of people who grew up listening to number one hits like “Let’s Dance’ and the remake of “Dancing In the Street” – the loss of this rock legend hit home for many this weekend.
What many young people may not know about Bowie was that he wasn’t only a rocker, but he had soul. Right around the time that “Let’s Dance” was released, David Bowie had already been writing songs with Luther Vandross (yes the R&B Legend Luther Vandross), for about ten years. Not only Vandross, according to MTV, David Bowie is credited with working with talent like the bassists Willie Weeks, singer Ava Cherry, drummer Tony Thompson and bassist/producer Nile Rodgers. Rodgers was one of many artists who expressed his disappointment in MTV for not airing black artists on the music channel in the early 80s. Bowie, who MTV described as a leader, and NEVER a follower, took an immediate opportunity to confront the mega TV network head-on during a live television interview about leaving out black artist.
Syllabus Magazine, the Carolina’s source for Music, Culture and Fashion
