David Bowie and his love for Black music

The chameleon David Bowie refused to be stuck in any one musical genre. But have no doubt that the Brixton musical genius, that was David Bowie loved his Black music.

As we all know, particularly those of a particular age, Bowie spanned the musical spectrum that included: ‘Space Oddity, Life on Mars, Heroes,  Star Man, Rebel rebel, and Peace on earth with Bing Cosby. I even read Lee Jasper’s facebook page reading his tribute, waxing lyrical about Bowie and his first number one hit, ‘The Laughing Gnome’.

But there were two Bowie era’s, in particular, that were consumed with Black music and took his success to new heights and new audiences. The making of the ‘Young Americans’ album placed him at the epicentre of the 70’s Black Philadelphia soul sound.

There he teamed up with a young Luther Vandross, and Andy Newmark from Sly and the family Stone. David Bowie like his contemporary Mick Jagger embraced Black music and repackaged it for a gluttonous white audience eager to feel the vibe.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ydLcs4VrjZQ

The next collaboration with Black music would be Bowie’s most successful in his career. Almost ten years after ‘Young Americans’, and frankly when most stars have either waned or disappeared completely, Bowie hooked up with the super cool Nile Rodgers of ‘Le Chic’ fame. Rodgers would produce Bowie's ‘Let's Dance’ album that once again catapulted Bowie to the top of the global music tree.

Speaking about how the collaboration came together Rodgers said:

“We met at his Manhattan apartment, where he showed me a picture of Little Richard in a red Cadillac and said, 'I want my album to sound like this.'  He just had to show me a picture, and I completely understood.  He wanted something that felt like the future, but was rooted in rock‘n’roll, something soulful, black, and R&B, but morphed and evergreen. And that’s what Let’s Dance is.”

http://pitchfork.com/news/62847-nile-rodgers-reflects-on-david-bowie

His last big song that screamed Black America was his duet with Mick Jagger for Bob Gedolf’s 'Live Aid concert. ‘Dancing in the Street - The Martha and the Vandellas original - was released in 1985 and quickly went to number one, sealing Bowie as one of the nation's surpreme artists.

David Bowie, he chameleon forever changing his hat and following his musical heart.

My own favourites are the albums, ‘Hunky Dory', and of course the cooler than cool ‘Let’s Dance’.

Respect to the ‘Thin White Duke’.

RIP

Simon Woolley