The music legend died Sunday after an 18-month battle with cancer, his son and publicist announced. He had just turned 69.
Bowie was 20-years-old when he penned a letter back to his 14-year-old fan, Sandra Dodd, from New Mexico in 1967. She had just received a copy of his record as a gift from her uncle and offered to start up Bowie’s first fan club in the U.S., according to Buzzfeed News.
“A few moments ago I was handed my very first American fan letter – and it was from you,” Bowie wrote. “I was so pleased that I had to sit down and type an immediate reply.”
Lovely David Bowie letter to a 14 yr old American fan, 1967. "I hope one day to go to America". pic.twitter.com/YtbA7K8hu1
“There is a fan club here in England, but if things go well in the states then we’ll have one there I suppose. It’s a little early to even think about it,” he continued. “I hope one day to get to America. My manager tells me lots about it as he has been there many times with other acts he manages.”
The Many Faces of David Bowie
David Bowie is seen c. 1965.CA—Redferns/Getty ImagesDavid Bowie during a portrait session in 1966 in London.Michael Ochs Archives/Getty ImagesDavid Bowie in his "Ziggy Stardust" guise in June, 1972 in London.Michael Ochs Archives/Getty ImagesTwiggy poses with David Bowie for the cover of his Pin Ups album in 1973 in Paris. Justin de Villeneuve—Getty ImagesDavid Bowie performs c. 1973. Archive Photos/Getty ImagesFrom left: Angie Bowie, his son Zowie Bowie (Duncan Jones) and David Bowie, appear at a press conference at the Amstel Hotel on Feb. 7, 1974 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Gijsbert Hanekroot—Redferns/Getty ImagesDavid Bowie is seen with a large barking dog while working on the artwork for his album Diamond Dogs in London in 1974.
Terry O'Neill—Getty ImagesFrom left: David Bowie, Yoko Ono and John Lennon at the 17th Annual Grammy Awards on Feb. 28, 1975 in New York City.Ron Galella—Getty ImagesDavid Bowie during the filming of The Man Who Fell To Earth in Los Angeles in 1976.Terry O'Neill—Getty ImagesIggy Pop and David Bowie in Germany in March 1977. Evening Standard/Getty ImagesDavid Bowie performs on Saturday Night Live on Dec. 15, 1979 in New York City.NBC/Getty ImagesFrom left: Carmine Rojas, David Bowie, and Carlos Alomar perform during the Serious Moonlight tour in 1983 at Wembley Arena in London. Phil Dent—Redferns/Getty ImagesPaul McCartney and David Bowie backstage at Live Aid on July 13, 1985 in London. Dave Hogan—Getty ImagesDavid Bowie plays an acoustic guitar while being photographed at a press conference in Tokyo on May 19, 1990. APAnnie Lennox and David Bowie perform "Under Pressure" at the Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert on April 20, 1992 in London.
Kevin Mazur—Getty ImagesDavid Bowie onstage at Madison Square Garden for his 50th Birthday Concert in New York City on Jan. 9, 1997.Kevin Mazur—Getty ImagesDavid Bowie is seen while being honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Hollywood, Calif. on Feb. 12, 1997.Jim Smeal—Getty ImagesDavid Bowie performs during the Isle of Wight Festival at Seaclose Park on June 13, 2004 in Newport, U.K. Jo Hale—Getty ImagesDavid Bowie performs with Arcade Fire at Conde Nast's 2005 Fashion Rocks Show on Sept. 8, 2005 in New York City.Kevin Mazur—Getty ImagesDavid Bowie during his last live performance on Nov. 09, 2006 in New York City.Kevin Mazur—Getty ImagesDavid Bowie attends the 2010 CFDA Fashion Awards at Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center on June 7, 2010 in New York City.Andrew H. Walker—Getty ImagesDavid Bowie and Iman are seen on April 28, 2011 in New York City.Andrew H. Walker—Getty ImagesDavid Bowie in 2015. Jimmy King
The singer also tells his pen pal his real name, height and birthday. “In answer to your questions, my real name is David Jones and I don’t have to tell you why I changed it,” he wrote. “Thank you for being so kind as to write to me and do please write again and let me know some more about yourself.”
