Sir George Martin, David Bowie and George Michael were all added to The Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, a document of the life and stories of some of the most influential members of British history.
The Fifth Beatle was added to the list alongside Bowie and the ‘Careless Whisper’ singer as part of the 228 new additions into the book’s newest edition. With the legendary actor Alan Rickman and iconic broadcaster Terry Wogan also being added.
The list of contemporaries can only be added after their deaths with all of this year’s additions all having passed away in 2016. The number of additions to the book are up to a healthy 61,411 covering the lives of 63.693 Britons.
NME reports that Bowie’s entry reads “arguably, his greatest legacy was in challenging and transgressing the gendered boundaries of his youth.”
The legendary producer Martin is noted as a“musical giant,” Michael is noted for his “phenomenally successful pop group Wham!,” and for “a solo career which saw him top the UK singles and album charts seven times each and sell more than 80 million records worldwide.”
To celebrate the new year, we have added over 200 British lives to our January ODNB update, including glam rocker David Bowie, vocalist George Michael, actor Alan Rickman, and architect Zaha Hadid #ODNB2020 https://t.co/sVG5FWf11l pic.twitter.com/mgPKVej4Fs
— National Biography (@odnb) January 9, 2020
David Bowie, singer/songwriter, Starman, and popular culture icon, was born #OnThisDay in 1947. Bowie will be one of over 200 extraordinary lives added in the #ODNB2020 update, available tomorrow. Be sure to check back for our Bowie entry, among many others @DavidBowieReal pic.twitter.com/psAjW28eel
— National Biography (@odnb) January 8, 2020
