David BowieBo·wie, David /ˈbəʊi/ (1947–) an English singer and songwriter who was extremely successful in the 1970s, when his music and unusual clothes influenced many other musicians. He is especially famous for performing as Ziggy Stardust, a character he invented when he released the record The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars (1972). Bowie's other famous records include Heroes and Let's Dance.