Andy Gibb
Great BritainBiography of Andy Gibb
Andy Gibb, an English disco singer, was not only an idol of the youth but also a very talented vocalist. Born Andrew Roy Gibb on March 5, 1958, in Manchester, England, he was the youngest brother of Barry, Robin, and Maurice Gibb, better known as the Bee Gees. Although he preferred to perform as a solo artist, Andy also participated in Bee Gees concerts upon his brothers' invitation. When Andy was only six months old, his family immigrated to Australia.
Andy Gibb began his music career performing in tourist clubs in Ibiza. Although Barry, Robin, and Maurice wanted Andy to be a part of the Bee Gees, the age difference - Andy was eleven years younger than Barry and eight years younger than Robin and Maurice - made it impossible. In 1975, Andy Gibb released his first record, followed by a series of new compositions that he wrote himself. The recordings were released on the ATA label, owned by the famous Australian singer Col Joye. His first single, "Words and Music," eventually reached the top 5 of the local charts.
Thanks to Robert Stigwood, the Bee Gees' manager at the time, Andy Gibb entered the international music scene by signing a contract with RSO Records. Shortly after, Andy moved to Miami, where he recorded new songs with his brother Barry, Albhy Galuten, and Karl Richardson. In the US, Gibb became the first solo artist to have three consecutive singles reach the top of the Billboard Hot 100 chart. In July 1977, his first hit, "I Just Want to Be Your Everything," exploded in the American charts. That same year, his first album, "Flowing Rivers," was released and later became platinum. The second single from the album, "(Love Is) Thicker Than Water," confirmed Gibb's star status by reaching the number one position on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
All the Gibb brothers, as well as old friends Albhy Galuten and Karl Richardson, participated in the recording of the album "Shadow Dancing," which was released in 1978 and soon became platinum. The overwhelming success also took a toll on Andy's well-being as he became addicted to drugs and took a prolonged break from his career. It was not until 1980 that he returned to the studio and began recording his third album, "After Dark." However, this album did not generate much interest from fans and admirers of Andy's talent. His songs barely made it into the top ten, with the exception of the single "Desire," which reached the fourth position. But for Andy, who was used to topping the charts, this fourth position was comparable to a failure.
In the following years, Gibb decided to try his hand in other areas of show business. He appeared on the TV show "Solid Gold" and performed in several Broadway productions, but he never achieved the same level of fame that he had experienced at the age of nineteen. In the early 1980s, his family convinced Andy to seek treatment for his drug addiction, which he underwent at the Betty Ford Clinic. After rehabilitation, Andy returned to work, recorded several demo recordings with his brothers, and prepared for the recording of his fourth album. However, he was not destined to see it come to light. Shortly after celebrating his 30th birthday in London, Andy Gibb was admitted to the hospital with complaints of abdominal pain. A few days later, he suffered a heart attack in the hospital. Doctors were unable to revive the still young singer, and he passed away on March 10, 1988.
Andy Gibb was laid to rest at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Los Angeles, next to his father, who passed away four years after his son's death. In turn, his brothers dedicated the song "Wish You Were Here" to Andy.
