David Bowie, Music Legend, Dead at 69

Musician David Bowie has died at the age of 69, his representative confirmed to ABC News. The singer had been battling cancer for more than a year, according to a statement on his official Facebook page.

“David Bowie died peacefully today surrounded by his family after a courageous 18 month battle with cancer,” the Jan. 10 statement said. “While many of you will share in this loss, we ask that you respect the family’s privacy during their time of grief.”

Bowie, a singer, songwriter, actor and fashion icon, has been an influence in some way on nearly every modern artist, from Kanye West to Madonna to U2 to Lorde to Lady Gaga. His influence can be felt in punk rock, new wave and alternative music, ambient, dance, electronic music and beyond. Though the decades, his music encompassed pop, glam rock, R&B, funk, dance, soul, progressive rock, hard rock and more.

Born David Robert Jones in London, the musician reportedly adopted the stage name “David Bowie” in the 1960s as an homage to U.S. pioneer Jim Bowie and to avoid confusion with the Monkees singer, Davy Jones. Then, in 1967, he released his eponymous debut album, and in 1969, another, “Space Oddity.”

His personal life was evolving, too: In 1969, he married his first wife, Angela Barnett, and two years later, welcomed their son, Zowie Bowie (now known as the film director Duncan Jones). He and Barnett would divorce in 1980.

The 1970s sparked a dramatic change in Bowie’s image. In 1970, he released “The Man Who Sold the World,” a rock album that displayed a shift from his earlier, more acoustic offerings. 1971 brought “Hunky Dory,” which featured songs including “Kooks,” “Changes” / “Andy Warhol” and “Life on Mars.”