The Legacy of Love and Music

R.I.P David Robert Jones Bowie

“Tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all." Alfred Lord Tennyson.

At 69 years of age, David Robert Jones (8 January 1947 – 10 January 2016), leaves behind his beautiful wife with whom he had a love story to cherish. The Somali-American supermodel and beauty Iman Abdulmajid and David Bowie were married for over two decades and lived primarily in New York City and London. David Bowie, born 8 January 1947 Brixton, London, England, is easily one of the most influential artists of this era. The official Facebook account related to him issued a statement saying that he "died peacefully, surrounded by his family".

In the words of David Bowie, it was love at first sight. He “just knew she was the one”. "I'd never gone after anything in my life with such passion in all my life. I just knew she was the one,” he said to “Hello! Magazine” in an interview in 2000.

Their marriage is considered to be one of the most stable ones in Hollywood. He wooed her until she said yes and showed affection in every aspect of their lives that included even tying her shoelaces in public.  They welcomed a daughter “Alexandria Zahra Jones” also known as “Lexi” in 2000.

They met first on a blind date with the help of a mutual friend and hairstylist Teddy Antolin who played matchmaker. After dating for two years, they tied the knot in a romantic wedding ceremony in Tuscany on 24 April 1992, where it rained. Despite being married for years, they kept the love and romance alive in their marriage. They looked happy and glowing every time they appeared together.

Two days before his death, he celebrated his 69^th birthday with his family. Iman took to twitter to celebrate the release of his new album “Blackstar” where she shared posts and pictures of the star. This is his last gift to his fans that Iman helped him share with his fans through social media all around the world. She loved him dearly. She has shared how she has a tattoo of his name inscribed within a knife on her right ankle and goes on to praise how wonderful of a person he was.

His healthy equation with Iman helped him and inspired him to make good music. During the same time, he emerged as an icon for the queer community. His demeanor and public appearances was proof that one could keep reinventing and rediscovering himself and there is no shame in that. He kept changing his style, his music and his appearance. He was a source of inspiration for many who didn’t identify as purely heterosexual. His footprint on androgynous fashion and gender equality is admirable. Not only this, he has been able to inspire artists of all genres. Nirvanas’ cover of “The Man Who Sold the World” got record breaking reviews and fame. David Bowie’s first collaboration with any artist was with Queen which got raving responses. Furthermore, the Queen of Pop Madonna claims that Bowie changed her life. His was a career that inspired modern pop. In the words of U2’s Bono, “It's not exaggerating to say what Elvis meant to America, David Bowie meant to the UK and Ireland.

He defied norms and genres and set his own rules. He is no doubt a huge part of the pop music industry and it wouldn’t have been the same without him.

He passed away on January 10 2016 after battling with cancer for 18 months. In the words of his wife and beloved, Iman Abdulmajid, almost 13 hours before his death was announced, "The struggle is real, but so is God”. He leaves behind his love, and his music.