Photo by Jimmy King

David Bowie died yesterday after an 18-month battle with cancer. He was 69 years old. The news was announced on the singer's Facebook page. "While many of you will share in this loss, we ask that you respect the family’s privacy during their time of grief," the note reads.

The news was confirmed by The Hollywood Reporter. Bowie's son, Duncan Jones, also confirmed it over Twitter.

Bowie was born in London in 1947. He released more than two dozen albums over a career spanning decades and musical styles, leaving an indelible mark on the music industry with songs such as "Space Oddity," "Heroes," and "Changes," and records such as Hunky Dory, The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars, Station to Station, and Low.

Bowie also acted in movies like The Man Who Fell to Earth and Labyrinth. He co-wrote Lazarus, a play inspired by The Man Who Fell to Earth that recently opened.

His latest album, Blackstar, was released last week on his birthday. Earlier tonight, it was announced that Bowie would be honored at Carnegie Hall on March 31.