British music legend David Bowie has been secretly cremated in New York City without the presence of friends and family members, according to reports.

The singer, who passed away on Sunday at the age of 69 after an 18-month long battle with cancer, previously told his loved ones that he wanted to "go without any fuss."

"There is no public or private service or a public memorial. There is nothing," a source from New York said, according to The Mirror.

"In many respects you don't need a memorial or service to remember David by - you have his music instead," another source said. "He would have wanted to just disappear with no fuss, no big show, no fanfare. This would totally be his style."

If true, then the singer's body had gone through what is known as "direct cremation," which is defined as "the disposition of human remains by cremation without a formal viewing, visitation, or ceremony," according to the New York State's health department website.

In direct cremation, the cadaver is taken to the crematory from the place of death and is then cremated once the required paperwork has been finalized.

A concert set to take place at Carnegie Hall on March 31 has slowly evolved into a tribute to the late singer, with Cyndi Lauper, The Roots and Mountain Goat set to make appearances.

Additionally, Beatles legend Paul McCartney and The Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger are expected to join the line-up, The Telegraph reported.