Puerto Rican guitarist Carlos Alomar is no stranger to the music scene. He started to perform on Amateur Night at the Apollo Theater in New York when he was just a teenager, and at around that time, he befriended R&B singer Luther Vandross. They started a band called the Shades of Jade, and Carlos also played with the Apollo Theater band Listen My Brother. They even appeared on Sesame Street in 1970:

From then on, Carlos strummed with some of the biggest musical acts of the 60s and 70s: James Brown, The Main Ingredient, Mick Jagger, Bruce Springsteen… and David Bowie.

Carlos came into playing with Bowie almost by accident. And it was through a friendship with the Starman himself —and an impromptu star-filled jam session— that Carlos’s life changed forever.

Featured images, courtesy of Carlos Alomar