David Bowie's 68th birthday on Thursday was met with tributes to the iconic musician's style that left fans with many incarnations, from Ziggy Stardust, Aladdin Sane to The White Thin Dude.
Bowie, whose musical career took off with the 1969 hit "Space Oddity," became as known for his gender-bending style as he was for his music,
according to Esquire magazine's Andrew D. Luecke.
"He exposed the world to male uninhibited male vanity, starting a conversation about gender, clothing, and identity that would help redefine western masculinity in the coming decades," Luecke wrote. "For this legacy, and incomparable songs like 'The Man Who Sold the World' and 'Life on Mars,' we wish you a happy birthday Mr. Bowie."
Musician Russell Brooks, who participated in a tribute to Bowie at the Iron Horse Music Hall in Northampton, Massachusetts, told
The Republican that while Bowie is not been seen much these days, he continues to have an impact.
"I don't know if Bowie himself is still relevant, but his music and art will always be, for sure," Brooks said before his show. "He was very important and influential to me and the world because he helped loosen people up by making it cool to be an androgynous artist from outer space. Bowie, along with 'Rocky Horror,' helped me awaken and celebrate the blurred line of gender within."
Born David Jones in London in 1947, Bowie would become one of the most influential and innovative musicians of his times,
according to Rolling Stone magazine.
Many fans, including his wife Iman, shared their birthday wishes for Bowie on Twitter.
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