SEE IT: David Bowie and Iman’s Marriage, in Pictures

Legendary entertainer, singer, and songwriter David Bowie passed away on Sunday, just two days after his 69th birthday and the release of his final album “Blackstar.” WATCH: Celebrate Frank Sinatra With 10 of His Best Duets According to a statement on his social media accounts, he was treated for cancer over the last 18 months and “died peacefully … surrounded by his family.” Among his countless achievements in music, the Thin White Duke was also known for his 23-year marriage to international model Iman. And while it may have been love at first sight for Bowie, Iman needed more convincing before becoming involved with the iconic performer. “For him [it was overwhelming],” said the now 60-year-old, as reported by Independent U.K. “I was not ready for a relationship. Definitely, I didn’t want to get into a relationship with somebody like him.” “But as I always said: I fell in love with David Jones,” she added. “I did not fall in love with David Bowie. Bowie is just a persona. He’s a singer, an entertainer. David Jones is a man I met.” READ: 10 Golden Rules for a Happy, Long-Lasting Marriage As Bowie once told HELLO! Magazine, “My attraction to [Iman] was immediate and all-encompassing. I couldn’t sleep for the excitement of our first date. That she would be my wife, in my head, was a done deal. I’d never gone after anything in my life with such passion in all of my life. I just knew she was the one.” (Bowie was right, too; the couple would marry in 1992 and welcome a daughter, Alexandria Zahra Jones, in 2000.) So as we continue to celebrate Bowie's life and musical legacy, let's also take a moment to celebrate his fairytale romance with the love of his life: