Was waiting for this memoriam to start on AG after Bowie's passing. First time. I saw Bowie he was Ziggy Stardust. The performance was at the now defunct Winterland Area in San Francisco, Not sure, but the year was about 1974. I was never into andgrogenous performrers or their music. Alice Cooper and most of his tunes were a bore. However, Bowie and his backup band were outstanding that night. Some songs were real rockers, and others thoughtful, lyrical and to degree offered haunting melodies.
It took about 20 years after that night at Winterland for me to revisit Bowie's music, and he had written a boatload in that time. Ziggy StarDust had been released on the Mobile Fidelity Label, and I realized that this man was either a genius or had a studio on Mars. Some years later, for matters of convenience, I picked up a "Best of Bowie" collection in 2000 which reconfirmed (to me) his compositional skills, lyrical development, melody, and presentation and which touched almost every track on this composite CD. Anyone who loves popular music must occasionally return to these tunes for their creativity and musicianship.
The music world has lost a great artist and a good man. He will be sorely missed. by those who love popular rock music.