Biography
Guitarist Carlos Alomar holds the distinction of appearing on a greater number of David Bowie albums than any other six-string player, surpassing even Mick Ronson, the guitarist most closely linked with Bowie in the public eye. Their initial encounter occurred in 1974 when Bowie sought to craft a record steeped in the dance and funk textures of Philadelphia soul; the two musicians connected immediately, setting the stage for an enduring creative partnership. The resulting 1975 release, Young Americans, soon emerged, with Alomar also sharing writing credit on the major hit “Fame” alongside Bowie and John Lennon. Around the same period Alomar effectively introduced soul singer Luther Vandross to the sessions, an opportunity that directly paved the way for Vandross’s own later solo success.
Recognizing that Bowie rarely remained anchored to one musical direction, Alomar adapted seamlessly across a run of stylistically diverse projects that included 1976’s Station to Station, 1977’s Low and Heroes, 1979’s Lodger, and 1980’s Scary Monsters. During those same years the guitarist joined Bowie in revitalizing the solo trajectory of punk icon Iggy Pop, serving as producer and co-writer on the acclaimed albums The Idiot (1977) and Lust For Life (1978).
Throughout the 1980s Alomar maintained an intermittent performing and touring relationship with Bowie, culminating in his appointment as musical director for the expansive Glass Spider Tour of 1987. Session opportunities multiplied as well, placing him alongside Paul McCartney, Mick Jagger, Chuck Berry, Bette Midler, Arcadia, Digable Planets, James Brown, The Bee Gees, Tina Turner, Whitney Houston, Bruce Springsteen, Carly Simon, Duran Duran, and Prefab Sprout, among many others. Across these engagements he contributed to a cumulative total of 32 Gold and Platinum records. In 1988 Alomar issued his own solo album, Dream Generator, an effort centered on layered synth-and-guitar atmospheres rather than overt technical display. Additional scoring assignments followed for films such as Pretty Woman, Pretty In Pink, The Usual Suspects, and Christina F, along with numerous television-commercial jingles.
Later reunions with Bowie yielded contributions to the 1995 album Outside and the 2002 release Heathen. Entering the new century, Alomar took on the role of Director of A&R for the Boombacker Music label while preparing a further solo project titled Hyly Volatyl.
Recognizing that Bowie rarely remained anchored to one musical direction, Alomar adapted seamlessly across a run of stylistically diverse projects that included 1976’s Station to Station, 1977’s Low and Heroes, 1979’s Lodger, and 1980’s Scary Monsters. During those same years the guitarist joined Bowie in revitalizing the solo trajectory of punk icon Iggy Pop, serving as producer and co-writer on the acclaimed albums The Idiot (1977) and Lust For Life (1978).
Throughout the 1980s Alomar maintained an intermittent performing and touring relationship with Bowie, culminating in his appointment as musical director for the expansive Glass Spider Tour of 1987. Session opportunities multiplied as well, placing him alongside Paul McCartney, Mick Jagger, Chuck Berry, Bette Midler, Arcadia, Digable Planets, James Brown, The Bee Gees, Tina Turner, Whitney Houston, Bruce Springsteen, Carly Simon, Duran Duran, and Prefab Sprout, among many others. Across these engagements he contributed to a cumulative total of 32 Gold and Platinum records. In 1988 Alomar issued his own solo album, Dream Generator, an effort centered on layered synth-and-guitar atmospheres rather than overt technical display. Additional scoring assignments followed for films such as Pretty Woman, Pretty In Pink, The Usual Suspects, and Christina F, along with numerous television-commercial jingles.
Later reunions with Bowie yielded contributions to the 1995 album Outside and the 2002 release Heathen. Entering the new century, Alomar took on the role of Director of A&R for the Boombacker Music label while preparing a further solo project titled Hyly Volatyl.
Albums