Barry Alan Crompton Gibb
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4
Awards
Barry Gibb co-founded the Bee Gees with his brothers Maurice and Robin in the early 1960s. As primary songwriter, he wrote 15 US number one hits between 1971 and 1983, including six consecutive chart toppers. The group’s shift to falsetto vocals defined the disco era, and the 1977 album Saturday Night Fever became a best-selling soundtrack. He also launched his brother Andy’s career and was knighted in 2018.
Names, aliases, and relatives of Barry Gibb — birth name, kin, and personal ties.
Barry Gibb by the numbers — life, work, and family.
Barry Gibb — early life, career, personal life, and legacy.
Barry Gibb formed the Bee Gees with his twin brothers Maurice and Robin in the early 1960s. Born on 1 September 1946 in Douglas, Isle of Man, to Barbara and Hugh Gibb, he was the second of five children. The family emigrated to Australia shortly after the birth of youngest sibling Andy, and the Gibbs performed anywhere they could, eventually securing a spot on local television and signing a record deal in 1963.
The Bee Gees broke out in the 1960s with soft rock hits like Spicks and Specks, but their 1975 shift to falsetto, driven by Barry’s vocal style, produced the disco era’s defining album: the 1977 Saturday Night Fever soundtrack. He also wrote for other artists: Islands in the Stream for Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton 1983, and hits for Diana Ross and Olivia Newton-John. After brother Andy’s death in 1988, his creativity waned, but the Bee Gees returned with the 1997 album Still Waters and the One Night Only concert.
Barry Gibb married Maureen Bates in 1966, divorcing in 1970. He then married Linda Gibb in 1970, and they have five children: Steve, Ashley, Travis, Michael, and Alexandra. Michael Jackson is godfather to his son Michael. The family lived in Miami, Florida. His brother Andy died from substance abuse in 1988, and brother Maurice died of a cardiac arrest in 2003.
Barry Gibb’s influence spans the Bee Gees’ disco dominance and his songwriting for diverse artists. Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1997 and the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1994, he received a knighthood in 2018. The 1997 One Night Only concert DVD is the highest-selling music DVD in Australian history. He is remembered as the falsetto-voiced frontman of the Bee Gees and one of pop’s most prolific songwriters.
The complete filmography of Barry Gibb — every film, TV show, and documentary credit, ranked by popularity.
Every award, honor, and recognition received by Barry Gibb — Grammys, hall-of-fame inductions, civic honors, lifetime achievements.
A wall of memorable lines from Barry Gibb — lyrics, interviews, and off-the-cuff remarks captured over a lifetime.
I Still Feel the Urge to Prove That I Write Songs. It Doesn’t Go Away. I Think There Is Something About a Song Which Will Literally Make You Cry. Bluegrass Music Does That to Me. I Can’t Watch ‘Carousel’ Without Crying. I Can’t Watch ‘South Pacific’ Without Crying.
Once I’d Lost All My Brothers, I Just Sat Around for a Long Time. You Never Get Past That, That’s What You Learn. My Wife Just Said, ‘Do Something. Get Out of the House. Get on the Stage Again’. She Drove Me to It. I Can Be Onstage and Still Imagine That They’re Standing There, Especially When We Used to Be Around One Microphone. I Still Feel That Intensely, but I Also Feel It in Real Life.
Little-known facts about Barry Gibb — origins, oddities, and behind-the-scenes details from a public life.
Although left-handed, Barry Gibb plays guitar right-handed.
Michael Jackson is godfather to his son Michael.
Between 1971 and 1983 he wrote or co-wrote fifteen U.S. number one hits, including six consecutive chart toppers, a record shared with John Lennon and Paul McCartney.
The Sunday Times estimated his and brother Robin’s combined net worth at $180 million.
Daughter Alexandra Lianna Ali was born nearly 4 months early when Linda contracted a bacterial infection; she weighed only 1 lb 9 oz at birth.
The Bee Gees’ breakthrough hit Spicks and Specks was No. 1 in Australia in 1967. It is an upbeat number about past teen relationships and was used to close concerts in the late 1960s.
Barry Gibb has four sons: Steve born 1973, Ashley born 1977, Travis born 1981, and Michael born 1984, and one daughter, Alexandra born 1991.
He is the guitarist and singer of The Bee Gees.
Inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1994 with brothers Robin and Maurice.
The Bee Gees won the 2005 Q Lifetime Achievement Award.
He and The Bee Gees were awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Recording at 6845 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California.
Awarded a CBE, Commander of the Order of the British Empire, by Queen Elizabeth II in the New Year’s Eve Honors List 2001.
The Gibb Brothers lived on Cribb Island, a former suburb of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, now part of Brisbane Airport.
Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1997 as a member of The Bee Gees.
When he made a cameo in an episode of Only Fools and Horses set in Miami, David Jason described him as wonderfully self-effacing; Gibb invited Jason and Nicholas Lyndhurst into his home.
Older sister Lesley was born January 12, 1945.
He was awarded the Knight Bachelor of the Order of the British Empire in the 2018 Queen’s New Years Honours List for services to Music and to charity.
Older brother of Maurice Gibb, Robin Gibb, and Andy Gibb.
Second of five children.
His signature guitar for live performances is his blue Guild Songbird S4CE-BG.
The Bee Gees won the 1997 Brit Award for Outstanding Contribution.
Original band members of The Bee Gees included drummer Colin Petersen and guitarist Vince Melouney.
Has a niece, Beri Gibb, born 29 September 1964.
He lives in Miami, Florida.
Quick answers to the questions readers ask most about Barry Gibb.
Celebrities similar to Barry Gibb — same craft, ranked by reach.
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