As the 50th anniversary of David Bowie’s Young Americans approaches, guitarist Carlos Alomar looks back with fondness on the creation of the album that helped define both of their careers. Alomar spoke highly of Bowie’s exploration into what David referred to as “plastic soul,” a move that resulted in Bowie’s first U.S. Top 10 album. The album’s success, highlighted by the chart-topping hit “Fame,” which was co-written by Bowie, Alomar, and John Lennon, cemented its place in music history. “Fame” topped the Billboard Hot 100 in 1975, dethroning Glen Campbell’s “Rhinestone Cowboy” from the No. 1 spot.
Reflecting on his first encounter with Bowie, Alomar recalls, “David was knowledgeable in American lore, in blues, jazz, R&B, Thelonious Monk, Ella Fitzgerald.” He also asked Bowie about his Spiders from Mars and whether he had known The Beatles. “I had never met a Brit before,” he adds.
Young Americans stands as a pivotal moment in both Bowie and Alomar’s careers. In honor of their successful musical history together, Alomar plans to go on tour next winter to pay tribute to the legendary partnership they shared.
Related Topics
- Vini Vici Unleashes High-Energy Drum & Bass with “Flashover” Album Release
- 5-Year-Old Keith Jacobs Goes Viral with HBCU Drum Major Moves and Dreams of the Moon
- Seharkhwans, The Drum-Beaters Who Preserve Kashmir’s Ramzan Tradition
