Rock Icon David Bowie Dead at 69

Rock legend David Bowe died yesterday at age 69 after an 18-month battle with cancer. Apparently, he kept his cancer diagnosis fairly secret.

His family released the following statement:

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

David Bowie was a rock icon for over 40 years, infusing glam rock, soul, pop and electronica.

His big breakthrough came in 1972 with his album "The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars". It featured songs such as "Moonage Daydream", "Starman", "Ziggy Stardust", and "Suffragette City".

Ziggy Stardust actually became sort of his alter ego for a while too, complete with the pale white makeup, big orange hair, weird androgynous outfits.

Here's the shocker about his career, he only had two #1 hits in America -- "Fame" in 1975 and "Let's Dance" in 1983.

Other Bowie classics include "Space Oddity", "Changes", "Rebel Rebel", "Young Americans", "Golden Years", "Heroes", "Modern Love", "Under Pressure" with Queen, and "Little Drummer Boy" with Bing Crosby.

He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996 and got the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2006.

David Bowie is survived by his wife, the model Iman, whom he married in 1992. They had a daughter together, and Bowie had a son from a previous marriage.

On Friday, David celebrated his 69th birthday and the release of his latest album, "Blackstar".