In 2016, David Bowie said goodbye with "Blackstar," his final album, on his 69th birthday.
The world didn't know at the time, that this album would become a poignant farewell from one of the most influential artists of our time. Two days after the album's release, Bowie passed away from liver cancer, a battle he had kept private, as "Blackstar" was recorded in secret over a series of sessions in New York City, with Bowie collaborating with his long-time producer Tony Visconti and a group of jazz musicians featuring saxophonist Donny McCaslin, pianist Jason Lindner, bassist Tim Lefebvre, and drummer Mark Guiliana.
The album was experimental in nature, combining atmospheric art rock with elements of jazz, influenced by Kendrick Lamar and Death Grips, and was a striking departure from his previous album, "The Next Day."
Two singles were released, the haunting title track, "Blackstar," and "Lazarus," a song tied to Bowie’s Off-Broadway musical of the same name. The music videos for both songs were, leaving fans to ponder deeper meanings and themes, and the album's cover art, designed by Jonathan Barnbrook, featured a large black star with five star segments spelling out "BOWIE."
"Blackstar" was met with critical acclaim and commercial success, topping the charts in multiple countries, including becoming Bowie's first album to reach number one on the US Billboard 200. The album was named one of the best albums of 2016, and won three Grammys, solidifying its place as a fitting capstone to Bowie’s iconic career.