David Robert Jones, known professionally as David Bowie was an English singer-songwriter and actor. He chose Bowie after the Bowie knife because ?ǣit cuts both ways.?ǥ He was a leading figure in the music industry and has been considered by many to be one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century. His career is marked by chaptered reinvention and visual presentation. During his lifetime, his record sales estimated at 140 million albums worldwide with ten platinum album certifications, eleven gold, and eight silver.