England. His mother, Margaret Mary “Peggy” Jones, was a waitress, and his father, Haywood Stenton “John” Jones, was a promotions officer for the children’s charity Barnardo’s. The family lived at 40 Stansfield Road, near the border of the south London areas of Brixton and Stockwell.
Bowie developed an interest in music at an early age. His parents had a good record collection, which included the likes of Fats Domino, Elvis Presley, Little Richard, and Bill Haley. These artists significantly influenced Bowie’s musical taste.
At the age of 9, Bowie’s father brought home a collection of American 45s by artists like Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers, The Platters, and Elvis Presley, and it was then that Bowie reportedly felt like he had heard God.
When he was 13, Bowie began learning the saxophone, inspired by the jazz records his half-brother Terry brought home. He went on to attend a local technical school, where he received a grounding in music theory.
However, Bowie’s childhood wasn’t entirely easy. His half-brother Terry, who had introduced him to the worlds of rock music and beat literature, had been diagnosed with schizophrenia and was institutionalized, which had a significant impact on Bowie. This influence is seen in some of his later work, where he often explored themes of insanity and alienation.
David Bowie Childhood Photos
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