Barry Gibb

Barry Gibb CBE
Barry Gibb in 1973
Background information
Birth name	Barry Alan Crompton Gibb
Also known as	Johnny Hayes
Born	(1946-09-01) 1 September 1946 Douglas, Isle of Man
Origin	Manchester, Lancashire, England, UK
Genres	Rock, psychedelic rock, baroque pop, disco, country
Occupation(s)	Musician, singer, songwriter, record producer
Instrument(s)	Vocals, guitar
Years active	1955–present
Labels	Polydor, Atco, MCA
Website	barrygibb.com

Barry Alan Crompton Gibb, CBE (born 1 September 1946) is an English musician, singer, songwriter and producer who rose to worldwide fame as a founder member of the Bee Gees, one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed groups in the history of popular music. With his brothers, Robin and Maurice, he formed a songwriting partnership since 1966.

Born in Isle of Man, and raised in Manchester where he became involved in the skiffle craze forming his first band, the Rattlesnakes, formed in Manchester and evolved into the Bee Gees in 1960 when they moved to Redcliffe, Queensland, Australia. They returned to England where they achieved worldwide fame. He was also known for his high-pitched falsetto singing voice. Gibb shares the record with John Lennon and Paul McCartney for consecutive Billboard Hot 100 number ones as a writer with six. The book of Guinness World Records lists Gibb as the second most successful songwriter in history behind Paul McCartney.

Gibb's career has spanned over fifty years. In 1994, he was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame with his brothers. In 1997, as a member of the Bee Gees, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and received the Brit Award for Outstanding Contribution to Music. Barry is a fellow of the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors.

Biography

1946–54: Early years

Further information: Hugh Gibb

Gibb was born in Jane Crookall Maternity Home at Douglas, Isle of Man to Hugh, an English drummer of Scottish descent, and Barbara Gibb (née Pass) of Irish and Scottish descent. He has an already an older sister, Lesley Evans. He was named Barry Alan Crompton Gibb after his father's youngest brother named Alan who died in infancy and according to Hugh, in a mingling of fact and fiction, the third name was given to the eldest son of the family in honour of Gibbs' illustrious ancestor, Isaac Crompton. When Gibb was born, his father was busy with his music working at various hotels in Douglas, while his mother stayed at home looking after the children. Later, the Gibbs moved to Chapel House on Strang Road. When he was almost two years old, he was badly burned. His mother had just made tea which she had put on the table; he climbed up and pulled the tea pot down and got the tea all over him. He was in Nobles Hospital for about two and a half months. That period is gone out of his memory. Only the physical scars remain.

In 1949, the Gibb family relocated to 50 St. Catherine's Drive. Later on 22 December, his two younger brothers Robin and Maurice were born. When the twins were young, they moved to Smedley Cottage, Spring Valley, also in Douglas. Gibb started school on 4 September 1951, three days after his fifth birthday, attending Braddan school. In 1952, the Gibb family relocated to 43 Snaefell Road, Willaston, which became their home for the next two years. The same year, he went to Tynwald Street Infants School. On his seventh birthday in 1953, he went to Desmesne Road Boys School.

In 1953, the Gibbs moved back to Manchester because most of their mother's family lived there. The first school attended by Barry after moving back to Manchester is not good, specially the head master of the school he went to was not fond of him. The headmaster Barry for some months and Gibb really became afraid of him and he and some friends didn't go to school then anymore for about a year, he didn't tell his parents about that as Gibb explains, "If I would have, something could have been done about it probably".

1955–2003, 2009–2012: The Rattlesnakes to the Bee Gees

Further information: The Rattlesnakes (1955 band); Barry, Robin & Maurice Gibb; Robert Stigwood; Bee Gees; and The Bee Gees' concerts in 1967 and 1968

Formation, popularity and touring years

The Bee Gees in 1967 (left to right: Barry Gibb, Robin Gibb, Vince Melouney, Maurice Gibb and Colin Petersen)

In 1955, Gibb was involved in the skiffle craze as he formed a band The Rattlesnakes with himself on guitar and vocals, Robin and Maurice on vocals, while their neighbors at that time, Paul Frost on drums and Kenny Horrocks on tea-chest bass also joined. Their real debut performance was on December 28, 1957. His first composition was "Turtle Dove" in 1956 as he recalls only the title. But according to Horrocks, Gibb's first song ever written was "Hopscotch Polka" as Horrocks said: "Barry was just making up words aloud, while strumming his guitar in the Gibbs front garden, for several days until the song was finished". Horrocks also says that the song was good. Around the same time, fellow Rattlesnakes member Paul Frost accidentally broke Gibb's guitar. The house was dark because Gibb's father had been unable to pay the electricity bill, and Frost accidentally sat on the guitar, leaving it "broken in the middle." In May 1958, the Gibb family moved to Northen Grove as Horrocks and Frost left, but the pair would maintain close contract with their former neighbors. And the name The Rattlesnakes was changed to Johnny Hayes and the Blue Cats as Robin said: "We did the Palatine [Cinema] as Wee Johnny Hayes and the Blue Cats, Barry was Johnny Hayes". Horrocks recalls that Barry did a solo spot as Wee Johnny Hayes at a "Minor 15", a talent contest for under-fifteen held on Princess Club in Chorlton. On 5 March 1958, the last of the five Gibb children, Andrew Roy Gibb later in August, his family travelled to Brisbane, Australia, and they arrived on September 1, Gibb's 12th birthday settling in one of the city's poorest suburbs, Cribb Island. The suburb was later bulldozed to make way for Brisbane Airport. While in Australia, his father was working as a photographer while Gibb has a normal job for a while as he worked for a tailor. And it was in Australia that Gibb and his brothers Robin and Maurice started performing as the Bee Gees. His 1959 other compositions, "The Echo of Your Love", "Twenty Miles to Blueland", "Let Me Love You" and "(Underneath the) Starlight of Love" were on Bill Gates and Col Joye's tape. The Bee Gees made their first television appearance in March 1960 and at that time was the start of the television in Australia. By that time, Gibb was writing songs but few titles from this time have survived. On the video, the Bee Gees singing Gibb's song, "Time Is Passing By". Gibb quit school at age fifteen in September 1961, and the Gibbs moved to the beach resort area of Surfers Paradise at about that time. In September 1962, Gibb managed to audition songs to Col Joye. In January 1963, the Gibbs moved to Sydney area, and around the same time, the Bee Gees signed to Festival Records but they were assigned to Leedon Records, and Gibb started his second career as a songwriter. In March 1963, the Bee Gees' first single, "The Battle of the Blue and the Grey" backed by "The Three Kisses of Love" was released both songs were written by Gibb. And in the same year, Gibb and his brothers worked with other Australian artists such as Judy Stone, Johnny Devlin and Jimmy Hannan. At the start of 1964, the influence of the Beatles reached Australia. The concept of the Beatles was writing and recording their own songs that would be inspirational to the Bee Gees, who were at this time still a vocal group rather than a band at that time. He worked with other artists such as Johnny Devlin and Trevor Gordon. His first composition which was charted was the song "One Road", a song popularized by Jimmy Little, and the second was "I Just Don't Like to Be Alone" by Bryan Davies. In 1965, Gibb wrote a Chuck Berry style track, "Little Miss Rhythm and Blues" as performed by Trevor Gordon. Gibb also worked with Michelle Rae and Noeleen Batley on that year.

In 1966, the Bee Gees was moved to Spin Records the reason for all this was a change in their recording contract was Gibb's father, acting as the group's manager, argued with Fred Marks of Festival Records, the one claiming poor promotion and the other a lack of public interest. The solution came when producer Nat Kipner offered to sign the boys to his newly formed label, Spin Records. Festival got distribution rights for Spin, the brothers got promises of studio time and a producer who was going out of his way to work with them, and Kipner got what he considered potentially the best group in Australia, built on the foundation of Gibb's proven talents. Their first single in 1966 was a rock number "I Want Home" and a love ballad "Cherry Red". Also in 1966, when the Bee Gees released their first successful single "Spicks and Specks" which was charted in Australia, New Zealand, Netherlands and in the UK between 1966 and 1967. And in 1966, Gibb worked for other artists such as Bip Addison, Sandy Summers, Anne Shelton, Vince Maloney (who became later a member of the Bee Gees), April Bryon, MPD Ltd, Ray Brown and the Whispers, Ronnie Burns, Lori Balmer, Marthy Rhone, Vyt, Phyton Lee Jackson, Dennis Knight, Barrington Davis, Jenene and Jon Blanchfield. But later in October, the Bee Gees decided to leave Australia and moved back to their hometown in England, Kipner agreed and let them go but Kipner did reserve the Australian rights to whatever they managed to record over the next several years.

Gibb playing Gibson J-160E on Dutch television Twien in 1968

The Bee Gees, their parents, and record producer Ossie Byrne all set sail for England on January 3, 1967, aboard the ship Fairsky, reaching Southampton on February 6. The Bee Gees performed on the boat in exchange for passage. When they are in England, Gibb's father had optimistically sent off a package to NEMS, the Beatles' management company, with press clippings and two disks: the Spicks and Specks album and an acetate with more songs from St Clair Studios in Australia. The Bee Gees were already under consideration by Polydor Records. Managing director Ronald Rennie recalls being contacted late in 1966 by someone from Gibb's publisher in Australia. The publisher sent "Spicks and Specks" and other songs and Rennie liked the songs. When the boys passed live audition with Robert Stigwood and were then signed to the Robert Stigwood Organisation on February 24. The Bee Gees' first recording session after they moved back to England was in Billy J. Kramer's recording session in March, the song was "Town of Tuxley Toymaker, Part 1" the song later released as a single in April.

The new member of the group, drummer Colin Petersen had already worked with the Bee Gees, his drum work was featured on the Spicks and Specks album and the other unreleased songs in 1966. The next was guitarist Vince Melouney had already collaborated with the brothers in 1966. In July 1967, the Bee Gees released their first international album Bee Gees' 1st, and features three singles. Around July, the Gibb brothers sings backup vocals on Johnny Young's cover version of the Bee Gees' "Craise Finton Kirk Royal Academy of Arts" and they did the same on Paul Nicholas' cover version of the Bee Gees' "Holiday". Around the same time, the Gibb brothers contributed singing backing vocals on the track "Cowman, Milk Your Cow", a song written by Gibb and Robin. The guitar work is by Peter Green of Fleetwood Mac. At the end of 1967, Gibb has called first fame was taking its toll and the group were at odds with each other. At the start of 1968, Gibb were now vying for influence in determining the musical direction of the group, creating tension in the studio and on stage. In 1968, Gibb co-wrote the song "Only One Woman" a song by the Marbles which was their well-known single. Also in 1968, Gibb collaborated with Lori Balmer playing guitar and producing "Treacle Brown" and "Four Faces West" Between 1968 and 1969, the Bee Gees released three albums: Horizontal, Idea and Odessa. In early 1969, the four Bee Gees members collaborated singing background vocals and playing instruments on the Marbles' three songs, including the single "The Walls Fell Down" and the B-sides, "Love You" and "Little Boy", around the same time, the Bee Gees released "First of May" The flip side of the song was "Lamplight" on which Robin sang the lead. But Robert Stigwood chose "First of May" to be the A-side. No other songs were released from the album Odessa. as Robin quit the group. Shortly after Robin announced his solo plans, the Bee Gees released their first single without Robin, "Tomorrow Tomorrow". Around 1969, Gibb worked with Samantha Sang, as he co-writing and producing the songs, "The Love of a Woman" and "Don't Let It Happen Again" and producing songs for P.P. Arnold including "Bury Me Down By the River" and "Give a Hand, Take a Hand" both was originally recorded by the Bee Gees for their 1970 album. In August 1969, the film Cucumber Castle was started to filming but shortly after that, drummer Colin Petersen left the group and now only features Gibb and Maurice as the Bee Gees. Pentangle drummer Terry Cox replaced Petersen to complete another 12 songs, but five songs was released in the album.

Solo work and return

Gibb performing on Dutch television programme TopPop in 1973

In December 1, Gibb announced his departure from the Bee Gees and that he would carry on as a solo artist instead. In February 1970, he started to record his first solo album after spending a couple of months writing. He released his first solo single, "I'll Kiss Your Memory", but all of the songs on his first solo album The Kid's No Good was unreleased until this day and instead the other songs would later covered by other artists. As Robin and Maurice recorded their own solo albums. At that time, the album Cucumber Castle which featured three singles. In August 21, the Bee Gees would reunite and record together. They said that they wrote "Lonely Days" and "How Can You Mend a Broken Heart" at their first reunion session. In 1971, the group released Trafalgar and featured the song "How Can You Mend a Broken Heart" which was their first American #1 hit. In October 1971, Gibb recorded three songs for his fan club disk called Barry Gibb Fan Club, one of the songs, "King Kathy" was released as a single on Lyntone Records. In 1972, Gibb, unlike two years ago, had remained a constant creative force as always, and he had now set aside the idea of a parallel solo career and was ready to devote full attention to the band. The 1972 song "Paper Mache, Cabbages and Kings" was the last track that was released featuring Geoff Bridgford on drums as Bridgford left the group before the Bee Gees' tour of East Asia, and was replaced on tour by Chris Karan but Karan only worked with the Bee Gees in a tour not for a recording session. Later, To Whom It May Concern was released, most of the songs on drums were played by Clem Cattini, and that album was a farewell to the old Bee Gees, the last album recorded fully at IBC Studios and their last album arranged by Bill Shepherd who had worked with the group since 1964, also in 1972, Gibb moved to Los Angeles to record in a studio. The recording studio was The Record Plant. Later in October, the Bee Gees starts to record A Kick in the Head Is Worth Eight in the Pants but that album has not yet released except the single "Wouldn't I Be Someone". In 1973, the Bee Gees was moved to the RSO Records as their first single on that label was "Saw a New Morning" and Life in a Tin Can was released, at that time Stigwood was not ready to give up on the group, but he did not believe in the musical direction they were taking. At the suggestion of Jerry Wexler and Ahmet Ertegun of Atlantic Records, Stigwood sent them to work with Atlantic producer and arranger Arif Mardin as Mardin produced the next Bee Gees album in 1974. After a United States tour early in 1974, the band started to performed at small clubs in England. The same year, they released Mr. Natural.

Disco, funk and R&B era

At the start of 1975, the band was moved to Miami to work on their new album with Arif Mardin in Criteria Studios. Also in 1975, the Bee Gees recorded six songs which was originally performed by the Beatles for All This and World War released in 1976. The first song on which features Gibb's falsetto was "Nights on Broadway" as he explains on The Larry King Show in 2002:

"It came to me in a dream, there was a request by Arif Mardin, who was like an uncle to us, he was a great record producer during the song 'Nights On Broadway,' for the Main Course album, which is previous to the 'Fever' syndrome. And he said, 'Can any of you scream, scream in falsetto.' So, you know, give us an ad lib or a scream at the end. So from screaming, it turned into things like blaming it all."

At the start of 1976, Gibb recorded songs for the Bee Gees' album Children of the World, also in that year Gibb wrote "I Just Want to Be Your Everything", Andy Gibb's first US No. 1, and provided backup vocals. Also in 1977, Gibb took the lead vocals on the songs "How Deep Is Your Love", "Stayin' Alive" and "Night Fever"; these songs all reached No. 1 in the US. Gibb co-wrote "Emotion", which remains Samantha Sang's best-known hit. Around the same time, Gibb and Galuten wrote "Save Me, Save Me" as recorded by the group Network from New York City. In May to September 1977, Gibb along with Robin and Maurice started to record songs for the film Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band and was produced by George Martin. In 1978, Andy Gibb recorded his second album Shadow Dancing with participation by Gibb, the song of the same name was credited to all four brothers was also a US No. 1 single. In 1978, Gibb wrote "Grease" for the stage musical of the same name, which was performed by Frankie Valli after filming Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band with Peter Frampton on guitar, the son was recorded around February. Also in February 1978, Gibb participated with Teri DeSario recording "Ain't Nothing Gonna Keep Me From You" which was written by him in 1977. In 1979, the Bee Gees' 1979 album Spirits Having Flown reached No. 1 in the US and other countries, most of the songs were performed by Barry. In 1978, he sang backup vocals, arranged and produced the Andy Gibb's 1978 album Shadow Dancing. After the Bee Gees' 1979 Spirits Having Flown Tour, he started to record demos for Barbra Streisand in October 1979. Also in that year, he sang backup vocals, playing guitar, synthesizer and produced the Andy Gibb's 1980 album After Dark.

Breakaway from disco sound, hiatus and return

In September 1980, Gibb produced the new songs including the cover version of "Will You Love Me Tomorrow" on Andy Gibb's first compilation album Greatest Hits. In October 1980, Gibb produced Guilty by Barbra Streisand. Songs from the album including the title track and "What Kind of Love" was a vocal duets between Streisand and Gibb which was became a hit. In 1981, the Bee Gees released Living Eyes the two singles from the album were not a disco genre. However the album was not a commercial success, perhaps due to them being so strongly associated with disco sound. In 1982, Clive Davis intervened and asked Barry to write solely for Dionne Warwick, who was on his Arista label. Around February, Gibb recorded the 12 demos for Dionne Warwick, but eight were used by Warwick and included on Gibb's demo album in 2006. As he produced Warwick's 1982 album Heartbreaker, the songs were all written with Gibb except "Our Day Will Come". About August, after Gibb met Kenny Rogers and asked for some songs, Gibb recorded his first demo for Rogers entitled "Eyes That See in the Dark". While at that time, Robin working on his How Old Are You? album with Maurice playing instruments. The other songs were intended for Kenny Rogers were written in late 1982, while on the start of the 1983, he started to continue record the demos until April 1983, while he recorded songs with the Bee Gees for the film Staying Alive starring John Travolta. Around May, Rogers started to record the songs for his next album. In August 1983, he produced Eyes That See in the Dark by Kenny Rogers, one of the song from the album "Islands in the Stream" by Rogers and Dolly Parton was became a big hit. Also in August, Irving Azoff signed Gibb to the MCA Records for North America. Gibb was signed for a few million dollars to a multi-album deal. Polydor still had rights to Gibb's songs outside North America. In September 1984, his album Now Voyager was released. Two singles from the album including "Shine, Shine" and the dance number "Fine Line". The film Now Voyager was directed by Storm Thorgerson, on the film the protagonist was himself. With actor Michael Hordern as his guide through a confusing world between life and death. On the film includes a music video of "Fine Line" features Gibb without his trademark beard and the video was filmed in black and white. In 1985, Gibb start to record demos for Diana Ross, and later Ross finally recorded the songs, and later he produced the album Eaten Alive. Also in 1985, Gibb co-wrote on some songs on Robin Gibb's album Walls Have Eyes.

In later 1985 and early 1986, Gibb wrote new songs for his next album, but his third album Moonlight Madness has not yet released until this day, and most of the songs on that album was later released in 1988. Randy Jackson of Journey plays bass on all of the tracks. Gibb co-wrote, "When Two Worlds Collide", "Lost in the Crowd" and "Spread Your Wings" for Swedish singer Carola on her album Runaway. Also in 1985, Gibb participated with the Bunburys with David English. In early 1987, the Bee Gees start to record their first album in six years, in June and July 1987, Gibb and Maurice produced Andy Gibb's four new songs, one of them is "Arrow Through the Heart" which was later released in 2010. In 1987, Gibb co-wrote "Up the Revolution" by Elton John. And in 1988, Gibb recorded two new songs for the Hawks film. In September 1988, the film soundtrack of the film was released by Polydor only in the UK, the songs were all performed by Gibb except "Chain Reaction" (Diana Ross), the single from the soundtrack was "Childhood Days" reached only #60 in Germany.

Around 1990, the Bee Gees recorded High Civilization. In September 1990, Gibb played guitar and co-produced with Scott Glasel, "Born to Be Loved by You" by Kelli Wolfe was released as an unreleased B-side in August 1993. Gibb co-wrote, plays guitar and co-produced the song "Eyes" by Kelli Wolfe in January 1992. Around 1992, Gibb plays guitar on Lulu's "Let Me Wake Up in Your Arms" released in 1993. In 1993, the Bee Gees recorded and released Size Isn't Everything. In 1994, the Bee Gees and Polydor planned a tour to promote Size Isn't Everything but was off February, due to Gibb's trouble with arthritis in the back, right hand and right knee. Gibb co-wrote "I Will Be There" which was recorded as a demo for Tina Turner, and released on Turner's album Twenty Four Seven. In 2001, Gibb co-wrote "I Cannot Give You My Love" with Ashley Gibb which was intended for Cliff Richard. In September 2001, the Bee Gees re-recorded "Islands in the Stream" which became their last session as a group as Gibb does not seem to be present on the session in Middle Ear Studios, Miami Beach, Florida. In 2002, Gibb and Michael Jackson recorded "All In Your Name. Also in 2002, Gibb sings background vocals on Michael Bublé's version of the 1971 song "How Can You Mend a Broken Heart".

2003–present: Solo career

In November 2003, 10 months after Maurice's death, Gibb contributed singing background vocals, playing guitar and producing the two songs performed by Cliff Richard, "I Cannot Give You My Love" and "How Many Sleeps?", Maurice Gibb's keyboard work from the 2001 demo version was copied to Richard's 2003 version. On 2 May 2004, Barry and Robin Gibb received the CBE award at Buckingham Palace, along with their nephew Adam, who collected the posthumous award in honour of his father, Maurice. In 2004, Gibb recorded "Underworld" and "Doctor Mann" both songs was released in iTunes, also around 2004, Gibb co-wrote and sing background vocals on Steve Gibb's solo single "Living in the Rain". In October 2004, Gibb began to record demos for Barbra Streisand to sing, he recorded the songs until February 2005. In January 2005, Gibb with his brother Robin recorded vocal parts along with many artists for the charity single "Grief Never Grows Old" behalf of victims of the tsunami in the Indian Ocean on December 26, 2004. By April 2005, Streisand started to record songs for her new album until May which was produced by Gibb. In August 2006, two Gibb singles "Doctor Mann" and "Underworld" was released on iTunes, "Underworld" was featured on the film soundtrack of Arctic Tale but that song was not featured on the film. On 7 December 2006, Gibb (along with around 4,500 other musicians) bought a full-page advertisement in the Financial Times newspaper, calling for the British Government to extend the existing 50 year copyright protection of sound recordings in the United Kingdom. The fair play for musicians advertisement proposed that the copyright be extended to the American standard of 95 years, and was viewed as a direct response to the Gowers Review (published by the British Government on 6 December 2006), which recommended the retention of the 50 year protection for sound recordings. In 2007, "Drown On the River" was released as a single in iTunes. The song later appeared on the soundtrack of Deal. Also in the same year, Gibb sing background vocals on Jamie Jo's song "U Turn Me On". In more recent years, Gibb has participated in a variety of activities, such as appearing as a mentor in season six of American Idol, writing the song "Drown on the River" for the soundtrack of the film Deal, and writing the theme music for ITV's Grease Is the Word. On 14 March 2009, Gibb teamed with Olivia Newton-John to present the one-hour finale performance at a star-studded 12-hour live concert at Sydney's Sydney Cricket Ground, part of Sound Relief, a fundraiser to aid victims of the February 2009 Victorian Bushfires that devastated large tracts of heavily wooded and populated south-eastern Australia, where the Gibb family once lived. The concert was televised live nationally across Australia on the Max TV cable network. On 10 July 2009, Gibb was made a Freeman of the Borough of Douglas (Isle of Man). The award was also bestowed upon his brother Robin, and posthumously upon his brother Maurice. Also in 2009, Barry and Linda Gibb became US citizens. They retain their British citizenship. In late 2009, Barry and Robin announced plans to record and perform together once more as the Bee Gees.

File:Paul McCartney and Barry Gibb.jpg

The two most successful songwriters in history: Paul McCartney and Barry Gibb

In 2010, Gibb nearly appeared on the Gorillaz album Plastic Beach which was released in March. In December 2011, his two songs, "Grey Ghost" and "Daddy's Little Girl" were released.

On 21 February 2012, Gibb performed his first solo concert in the US at the Seminole Hard Rock Cafe in Florida. He sang "How Can You Mend a Broken Heart" with Maurice's daughter, Samantha Gibb, who is a singer in her own band. Barry's son, Stephen, was also on stage as lead guitarist and sang a Maurice composition, "On Time".

On 20 May 2012, Robin Gibb died, making Barry the sole surviving Gibb brother. Ricky Skaggs recorded "Soldier's Son" before June 2012, on which Gibb added vocals on July in that year, the song was recorded for Skaggs' album Music to My Ears to be released in September 2012. Gibb made his debut performance at the Grand Ole Opry on 27 July 2012, performing three songs. Gibb commenced a world tour in 2013, starting in Australia called Mythology Tour, featuring the Bee Gees anthology set album of the same name. He was joined on stage by his son Stephen Gibb and Maurice's daughter Samantha. On that tour, for the first time on stage, Gibb performed "Playdown"(From 1966), "Every Christian Lion Hearted Man Will Show You"(1967), "I Started a Joke"(1969) and "With the Sun in My Eyes" (1968). Also for the first time, the music video of the Bee Gees' 2001 song "Technicolor Dreams" which was written by Gibb was shown on the video before the show was started. With his short tour inspired Festival Records to release a box set of Bee Gees' three Australian albums The Festival Albums Collection, 1965-1967 and a 'best of' compilation of the groups Australian era songs titledMorning of My Life. On 11 July, Gibb was interviewed at ITV. On October 27, 2013, Gibb attended at the Country Music Hall of Fame for Kenny Rogers, Bobby Bare and Cowboy Jack Clement. Gibb performs "Islands in the Stream" with Kelly Lang. In October 29, for the second time, Gibb performs at Grand Ole Opry with Ricky Skaggs. On 21 December 2013, Barry Gibb made a surprise appearance on the US television show Saturday Night Live at the end of the Barry Gibb Talk Show skit with Jimmy Fallon, Justin Timberlake and Madonna. Also appearing that night was Paul McCartney who shared the stage with Gibb during the closing credits where they embraced each other.

In January 27, Gibb performed "You Should Be Dancing" at the Late Night with Jimmy Fallon with a help from Jimmy Fallon's backing band, The Roots. In 28 January, Gibb was interviewed by the CNN about his brothers, and in that same interview, Gibb talks about Justin Bieber saying "heading for a brick wall". At the same day, at the Late Night with Jimmy Fallon show, Gibb with Jimmy Fallon harmonize on Everly Brothers songs, including "Bye Bye Love" and "Dream".

Personal life

Gibb's first marriage was to Maureen Bates, whom he married on 22 August 1966, when he was 19 years old. The couple lived together for only a short time, and were divorced in 1970. Gibb said: "When we first came out, Jimi Hendrix said we were two-year old Beatles. He was just giving an opinion at the time. People just like to have go at other artists. But we are very good friends with Jimi now". Years later, Gibb recalled: "He was a great mate of mine. He came to my twenty-first birthday. He was an extremely polite bloke. I never knew about the drugs then. I thought he was acting a bit weird and saying kind of remote things, but I was too naive to even consider that it might be drugs, I never cottoned on with Jimi and the drugs. I saw him drunk a few times because I remember thinking he was always really quiet until he had a few drinks".

During the taping of Top of the Pops, Gibb met the former Miss Edinburgh, Linda Gray as Gray explained: "Barry and I we are so in love". And on 1 September 1970 (his 24th birthday), Gibb married Gray and they have five children, Stephen (born 1973), Ashley (born 1977), Travis (born 1981), Michael (born 1984) and Alexandra (born 1991).

After all stresses of their personal and professional lives, both Barry and Robin collapsed from nervous exhaustion on a flight from Australia to Turkey in 1967. On 23 December 1967, Barry and Robin left England for Australia as Gibb explained: "But due to time difference we arrived on Christmas Day, We missed Christmas eve altogether!". The pair celebrated Christmas with their manager Robert Stigwood's family as Gibb said: "We went on to Sydney".

On 2 May 2004, Barry and Robin Gibb received the CBE award at Buckingham Palace, along with their nephew Adam, who collected the posthumous award in honour of his father, Maurice.

In January 2006, Gibb purchased the former home of country singers Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash in Hendersonville, Tennessee, intending to restore it and turn it into a songwriting retreat. The house was destroyed by fire on 10 April 2007 while under renovation. On 10 July 2009, Gibb was made a Freeman of the Borough of Douglas (Isle of Man). The award was also bestowed upon his brother Robin, and posthumously upon his brother Maurice. Also in 2009, Barry and Linda Gibb became US citizens. They have dual citizenship. Barry has homes in Miami, Florida, and in Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire, set in 90 acres of English countryside.

Influences and legacy

Gibb's influences when he was in the Rattlesnakes were The Everly Brothers, Paul Anka and Cliff Richard. The Bee Gees acknowledged that they would sing in the style of the Everlys and then add a third harmony and the result was "New York Mining Disaster 1941" (1967). When Gibb heard Roy Orbison's song "Crying" he said: "That was it. To me that was the voice of God."

Gibb had a highly successful career as a member of the Bee Gees, a group near the top of the all-time top-sellers list. When the group was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1997, their citation read "Only Elvis Presley, The Beatles, Michael Jackson, Garth Brooks and Paul McCartney have outsold the Bee Gees". The trio's contribution to Saturday Night Fever pushed the film's soundtrack past the 40 million mark in sales. It reigned as the top-selling album until Michael Jackson's Thriller. They are the only group in pop history to write, produce and record six straight No.1 hits. They have 16 Grammy nominations and nine Grammy wins.

Barry Gibb is also a prolific and successful songwriter, and is a fellow of the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors. In 1977, Gibb saw five of his songs simultaneously enter the Top Ten of the Billboard Hot 100, and for one week in March, four of the top five songs were written by him. His songs were No. 1 for 27 out of 37 weeks from 24 December 1977 to 2 September 1978. Gibb also holds a very unusual record, in that he is the only songwriter in history to write four successive US number one hits: in 1978, the Bee Gees' "Stayin' Alive" was replaced at number one by Andy Gibb's single, "Love Is Thicker Than Water", followed by the Bee Gees' "Night Fever" for their longest run, seven weeks. This was then replaced by Yvonne Elliman's "If I Can't Have You".

As a songwriter Gibb has had No. 1 songs in the 1960s, 1970s, 1980s 1990s and 2000s, when "Islands in the Stream" became No. 1 in the UK as the comic relief single for 2009. His songs have been recorded by numerous artists, including Jose Feliciano, Al Green, Wyclef Jean, Janis Joplin, Jimmy Little, Barry Manilow, Olivia Newton-John, Roy Orbison, Elvis Presley, Kenny Rogers, Diana Ross, Nina Simone, Barbra Streisand, Tina Turner, Conway Twitty, Frankie Valli, Luther Vandross, Sarah Vaughn, Jennifer Warnes, Dionne Warwick and Andy Williams. Gibb has also produced albums for Andy Gibb, Kenny Rogers, Diana Ross, Barbra Streisand and Dionne Warwick.

Discography

Studio albums

Year	Album details	UK	US
1970	The Kid's No Good Released: Unreleased Label: Polydor Records	—	—
1984	Now Voyager Released: September 1984 Label: Polydor Records MCA Records (US)	—	72
1986	Moonlight Madness Released: Unreleased Label: Polydor Records	—	—

Demo albums

Year	Album details	UK	US
2006	The Guilty Demos Released: 10 October 2006 Label:	—	—
2006	The Heartbreaker Demos Released: 10 October 2006 Label:	—	—
2006	The Eyes That See in the Dark Demos Released: 10 October 2006 Label:	—	—
2006	The Eaten Alive Demos Released:10 October 2006 Label:	—	—

Soundtracks

Year	Album details	UK	US
1988	Hawks Released: September 1988 Label: Polydor	—	—

Singles

Year	Single	Peak chart positions						Certifications (sales thresholds)	Album
		UK	US	US Dance	US AC	GER	NOR
1970	"I'll Kiss Your Memory"	—	—	—	—	—	—		The Kid's No Good
1970	"One Bad Thing"	—	—	—	—	—	—
1971	"King Kathy"	—	—	—	—	—	—		Barry Gibb Fan Club
1978	"A Day in the Life"	—	—	—	—	—	—		Sgt. Pepper (soundtrack)
1980	"Guilty" (with Barbra Streisand)	34	3	—	5	—	4		Guilty (Barbra Streisand album)
1981	"What Kind of Fool" (with Barbra Streisand)	—	10	—	1	—	—
1984	"Face to Face"(with Olivia Newton-John)	—	—	—	—	—	—		Now Voyager
1984	"Shine, Shine"	95	34	—	8	45	—
1984	"Fine Line"	—	—	50	—	—	—
1988	"Childhood Days"	—	—	—	—	60	—		Hawks (soundtrack)
1988	"Not in Love at All"	—	—	—	—	—	—
2006	"Doctor Mann"	—	—	—	—	—	—		Singles only
2006	"Underworld"	—	—	—	—	—	—
2007	"Drown On the River"	—	—	—	—	—	—
2011	"All In Your Name" (with Michael Jackson)	—	—	—	—	—	—
2011	"Grey Ghost"	—	—	—	—	—	—
2011	"Daddy's Little Girl"	—	—	—	—	—	—
"—" denotes releases did not chart

External links

• Official Barry Gibb website
• Official Bee Gees website
• Barry Gibb at IMDb