Barry Gibb British singer, composer and producer, leader of the Bee Gees Date of Birth: 01.09.1946 Country: Great Britain

1. Barry Gibb: British Singer, Composer, and Producer
2. Early Life
3. Formation of Bee Gees
4. Success as a Songwriter
5. Ups and Downs of Bee Gees
6. Personal Life and Legacy

Barry Gibb: British Singer, Composer, and Producer

Barry Gibb, born Barry Alan Crompton Gibb, is a British singer, composer, and producer. He is best known as the leader of the legendary pop trio, 'Bee Gees'. Barry proved to be incredibly talented and successful as a songwriter, with the majority of the group's repertoire being written by him. In fact, in 1978, five of Barry's songs simultaneously ranked in the top ten of the 'Billboard Hot 100' chart.

Early Life

Barry Gibb was born in 1946 on the Isle of Man. He was one of five children in the family of Barbara and Hugh Gibb. In 1950, the entire family moved to England, and when Barry was 12 years old, they relocated once again to Brisbane, Australia. Music has always attracted Barry since childhood, and together with his brothers Maurice and Robin, he formed a band and even performed small concerts.

Formation of Bee Gees

Barry founded the band 'The Rattlesnakes', later renamed the famous 'Bee Gees', in Australia. After achieving moderate success in the mid-1960s, the musicians moved to England, where the group's success became even more undeniable. The name 'Bee Gees' originated from the initials of their promoter, Bill Goode. Soon, the trio became one of the most successful acts of all time.

Success as a Songwriter

Barry Gibb proved to be an incredibly talented and lucky songwriter. In 1978, five of his songs simultaneously ranked in the top ten of the 'Billboard Hot 100' chart. Overall, Barry became a record-breaker in terms of chart-topping hits and music rankings. He also wrote songs for other musicians such as Diana Ross, Dolly Parton, and Barbra Streisand. Barry Gibb holds the 5th place in the list of the most successful British composers.

Ups and Downs of Bee Gees

Despite their numerous successes, the history of Bee Gees was not always smooth. Like many bands, they faced waning interest in their style, as musical trends of the time were unpredictable. Barry and his brothers had to experiment with funk, jazz-rock, disco, and pop styles to stay afloat. However, they managed to regain the attention of fans at the turn of the century by releasing several traditional rock albums.

Personal Life and Legacy

Barry Gibb has been married twice. His first wife was Maureen Bates, and their marriage lasted from 1966 to 1970. Later, Barry married the beauty queen Linda Gray, who was crowned 'Miss Edinburgh'. They tied the knot on September 1, 1970, which also happened to be Barry's birthday. They have five children together. Barry's son, Steve Gibb, followed in his father's footsteps and became a musician, touring with the Bee Gees. Notably, Michael Jackson became the godfather of Barry's son, Michael.

Barry Gibb's discography, without a doubt, deserves a separate article. Bee Gees released a tremendous number of albums, compilations, and singles, with estimated sales exceeding 200 million. Over his 45-year career, Barry has written and/or performed hundreds of songs, which have been covered by various artists and featured in movies, TV shows, and concerts. Barry and his group have received numerous awards, including a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Barry is also known for his television appearances, such as 'The Barry Gibb Talk Show'. He was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE).

Although the Bee Gees ceased to exist after the death of Maurice Gibb in 2003, Barry and his brother Robin reunited the group in 2009.