German singer-songwriter Klaus Sperber, better known by his stage name Klaus Nomi, was BOTD in 1944. Born in Bavaria and raised in Essen, he moved to West Berlin where he worked as an usher in an opera house, singing operatic arias at gay discos at night. He emigrated to New York in 1972, working as a pastry chef while immersing himself in the glam rock scene in Manhattan’s East Village. Known for his heavy Kabuki-style make-up, flamboyant costumes and theatrical performance style, his repertoire fused classical opera with 1960s pop songs and early versions of synth-pop and electronic music. He befriended many of the stars of the 1970s art world, including Jean-Michel Basquiat, with whom he had a brief relationship, and Keith Haring. He is best known for his collaborations with David Bowie, appearing as his back-up singer in a now legendary Saturday Night Live performance in 1979. Nomi released two solo albums which became underground successes, and he developed a cult following in Europe. He died 1983 from an AIDS-related illness, aged 39. His life and legacy was hugely influential on New Wave and New Romantic artists Marc Almond, The Cure and The Smiths and the fashion designers Thierry Mugler and Jean-Paul Gaultier. In more recent times, he has been embraced as a queer/non-binary icon, and cited as an influence on singer-songwriters Lady Gaga and Anohni.