Barry Gibb
Barry Gibb in 1973
Background information
Birth name	Barry Alan Crompton Gibb
Born	(1946-09-01) 1 September 1946 (age 65) Douglas, Isle of Man
Origin	Brisbane, Australia
Genres	Pop, rock, soft rock, adult contemporary, blue-eyed soul, disco, funk, country
Occupations	Musician, songwriter, record producer
Instruments	Vocals, guitar
Years active	1958–present
Labels	Polydor, MCA
Associated acts	Bee Gees
Website	www.barrygibb.com

Barry Alan Crompton Gibb, CBE (born 1 September 1946) is a singer, songwriter, producer and both the eldest and last surviving Gibb brother.

He was born in the Isle of Man to English parents, the second-eldest of five siblings. With his younger brothers, twins Robin and Maurice, he formed the Bee Gees, one of the most successful pop groups of all time. Their younger brother Andy was also a popular singer. The trio got their start in Australia, and found their major success when they returned to England.

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 Barry Gibb as the second most successful songwriter in history behind Paul McCartney.^[1]

Early life[link]

Barry Gibb performing on television in 1968.

Barry Gibb was born to Barbara and Hugh Gibb (d. 1992) in the Isle of Man. He has an older sister, Lesley (b. 1945), and had three younger brothers, fraternal twins Robin (1949–2012) and Maurice (1949–2003), and Andy (1958–1988). He and his family moved to Chorlton-cum-Hardy in Manchester in 1953. When he was 12 years old, his family moved to Brisbane, Australia, settling in one of the city's poorest suburbs, Cribb Island. The suburb was later bulldozed to make way for Brisbane Airport. It was in Australia that Gibb and his brothers Robin and Maurice started performing as the Bee Gees. The Gibb family returned to England in 1967. Shortly afterward, the Bee Gees became international stars.

Career[link]

Gibb had a highly successful career as a member of the Bee Gees, a group which ranks sixth on 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".^[2] 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. 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. As a songwriter Gibb has had No. 1 songs in the 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s and 2000s, when "(Barry) Islands in the Stream" became number 1 in the UK as the Comic Relief single for 2009. His songs have been recorded by numerous artists, including José 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.

In more recent years, Gibb has participated in a variety of activities, such as appearing as a mentor in the sixth season of American Idol, writing the song "Drown on the River" for movie soundtrack for Deal, and writing the theme music for ITV's Grease Is the Word.

On 2 May 2004, Barry and Robin Gibb received the CBE award at Buckingham Palace with their nephew Adam, who collected the award in honour of his late father, Maurice Gibb.^[3]

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.^[4] The house was destroyed by fire on 10 April 2007 while under renovation.^[5]

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.

In late 2009, Barry and Robin announced plans to record and perform together once more as the Bee Gees.^[6]

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.^[7] Also in 2009, Barry and Linda Gibb became U.S. citizens. They retained their British citizenship.

On 21 February 2012, Gibb performed his first solo concert in the US at the Seminole Hard Rock Cafe in Florida.^[8] 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, Steve, 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.

Personal life[link]

On 1 September 1970 (his 24th birthday), he married the former Miss Edinburgh, Linda Gray. They have five children, Stephen (born 1973), Ashley (born 1977), Travis (born 1981), Michael (born 1984) and Alexandra (born 1991).

In 1994, Barry Gibb, along with brothers Robin and Maurice, was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, and in 1997 they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

On 2 May 2004, Barry and Robin Gibb received the CBE award at Buckingham Palace with their nephew Adam, who collected the award in honour of his late father, Maurice Gibb.^[9]

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.^[10] The house was destroyed by fire on 10 April 2007 while under renovation.^[11]

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.^[12]

In 2009, Barry and Linda Gibb became U.S. citizens. They retained their British citizenship.

Legislation lobbying[link]

On 7 December 2006, Barry 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 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.^[13]

Discography[link]

[edit] The Kid's No Good

1970 (unreleased) All tracks written by Barry Gibb except where noted.

Side 1

• Mando Bay (or Born) – 4:48
• One Bad Thing – 3:32 (Barry Gibb, Maurice Gibb)
• The Day Your Eyes Meet Mine – 3:07 (Barry Gibb, Maurice Gibb)
• Happiness – 3:28
• Peace in My Mind – 4:10
• Clyde O'Reilly – 5:23

Side 2

• I Just Wanna Take Care of You
• I'll Kiss Your Memory – 4:26
• The Victim – 3:59
• This Time – 3:24
• What's It All About – 3:09
• Born (or Mando Bay) – 3:54

Album notes

• Recorded in February to March 1970 in London, produced by Barry Gibb.
• The album is known by this title but it is not definite. The line 'the kid's no good' features in a Bee Gees song by Barry Gibb, "Come Home Johnny Bride", on the 1973 album Life in a Tin Can.
• This is most likely the intended line-up, though available sources differ as to the placement of the first and last tracks. Bootleg versions add a number of additional tracks, and one claims to be a Polydor release.
• "I'll Kiss Your Memory" and "This Time" were released on a single (Polydor in much of the world, Atco in North America), which did not chart. A second single of "One Bad Thing" and "The Day Your Eyes Meet Mine" was pressed by Atco Canada but not released.

[edit] 1984: Now Voyager

Polydor, 1984 (MCA in North America)

Side 1

• I Am Your Driver
• Fine Line
• Face to Face
• Shatterproof
• Shine, Shine

Side 2

• Lesson in Love
• One Night (For Lovers)
• Stay Alone
• Temptation
• She Says
• The Hunter

Album notes

• To tie in with the album, Gibb filmed a "video album" version with a storyline, including nine of the songs and an instrumental title theme that is not on the LP or CD albums. The Now Voyager film is currently available as a Region 0 (all region) NTSC DVD. The video for "Fine Line" features a rarely seen Barry Gibb minus his trademark beard.
• "Shine Shine" reached the Top 40 in the US and the Top 10 in Adult Contemporary Charts.

[edit] Moonlight Madness

Polydor, 1986 (unreleased)

Side 1

• Moonlight Madness (Barry Gibb, George Bitzer, Alan Kendall) – 5:17
• My Eternal Love (Barry Gibb, Richard Powers) – 4:37
• System of Love (Barry Gibb, Alan Kendall) – 4:14
• Where Tomorrow Is (Barry Gibb, Robin Gibb, Maurice Gibb) – 4:14
• In Search of Love (Barry Gibb, Richard Powers) – 4:18
• Cover You (Barry Gibb, Karl Richardson) – 5:15

Side 2

• The Savage Is Loose (Barry Gibb, Randy Jackson, George Bitzer) – 3:25
• Not In Love at All (Barry Gibb, Maurice Gibb, George Bitzer) – 4:22
• Words of a Fool (Barry Gibb) – 4:51
• Distant Strangers (Barry Gibb, Carlos Vega, Steve Farris, Neil Stubenhaus) – 4:01
• Change – (Barry Gibb, George Bitzer, Alan Kendall) – 4:56
• Letting Go (Barry Gibb, George Bitzer) – 3:38

Album notes

• Recorded in February to March and April to May 1986 at Middle Ear Studio, Miami Beach, produced by Barry Gibb and Karl Richardson.
• Also known as When Tomorrow Comes and My Eternal Love.
• Several songs would later appear on the Hawks soundtrack.
• A bootleg version exists, titled The Original Hawks. This disc features the entire unreleased album, as well as a number of bonus tracks.

[edit] 1988: Hawks (OST)

Polydor, 1988

• System of Love
• Childhood Days
• My Eternal Love
• Moonlight Madness
• Where Tomorrow Is
• Celebration De La Vie (Theme from Hawks)
• Chain Reaction
• Cover You
• Not In Love at All
• Letting Go

Album notes

• The final incarnation of the unreleased Moonlight Madness album.
• "Chain Reaction" is performed by Diana Ross.

[edit] 1979: The Guilty Demos

private, 1979 (unreleased) / iTunes, 2006 All tracks written by Barry and Robin Gibb except where noted.

• Guilty (Barry Gibb, Robin Gibb, Maurice Gibb) – 4:09
• Woman in Love – 3:53
• Run Wild – 4:22
• Promises – 4:14
• The Love Inside (Barry Gibb, Robin Gibb, Maurice Gibb, Andy Gibb) – 4:47
• What Kind of Fool (Barry Gibb, Albhy Galuten) – 4:04
• Life Story – 4:56
• Make It Like a Memory (Barry Gibb, Albhy Galuten) – 6:34
• Carried Away (Barry Gibb, Albhy Galuten) – 3:51
• Secrets – 3:50

Album notes

• Recorded in October 1979 at Criteria Studios, Miami, produced by Barry Gibb.
• Recorded as a guideline for Barbra Streisand.
• Finally released on iTunes in 2006 as The Guilty Demos.
• A demo of "Never Give Up" was also recorded, but remains unreleased.
• "Carried Away" and "Secrets" were not used on Streisand's version.

[edit] 1982: The Heartbreaker Demos

private, 1982 (unreleased) / iTunes, 2006 All tracks written by Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb

• Heartbreaker – 4:32
• It Makes No Difference (Barry Gibb, Albhy Galuten) – 4:26
• Yours – 5:00
• Take the Short Way Home (Barry Gibb, Albhy Galuten) – 4:07
• Misunderstood – 3:55
• All the Love in the World – 3:43
• I Can't See Anything (But You) (Barry Gibb, Maurice Gibb, Albhy Galuten) – 3:19
• Just One More Night (Barry Gibb, Albhy Galuten) – 3:51
• You Are My Love – 3:49

Outtakes

• Oceans and Rivers – 4:24
• Broken Bottles – 4:00
• Never Get Over You (Barry Gibb, Albhy Galuten)
• Stay Alone (Barry Gibb, George Bitzer)

• The list of songs that are not used by Dionne Warwick's version.
• And the song "Stay Alone" was not used, and later he recorded for his album Now Voyager.

Personnel

• Barry Gibb – vocals, guitar
• Albhy Galuten – piano, synthesiser

Album notes

• Recorded at February 1982 in Miami Beach.
• Recorded as a guideline for Dionne Warwick.
• Released on iTunes in 2006 as The Heartbreaker Demos.

[edit] 1983: The Eyes That See in the Dark Demos

private, 1983 (unreleased) / iTunes, 2006

• This Woman (Barry Gibb, Albhy Galuten) – 3:57
• You and I – 4:25
• Buried Treasure – 3:55
• Islands in the Stream – 3:59
• Living With You – 3:06
• Evening Star (Barry Gibb, Maurice Gibb) – 4:00
• Hold Me – 4:10
• Midsummer Nights (Barry Gibb, Albhy Galuten) – 3:41
• I Will Always Love You (Barry Gibb, Maurice Gibb) – 4:10
• Eyes That See in the Dark (Barry Gibb, Maurice Gibb) – 4:00

Personnel

• Barry Gibb – vocals, guitar
• Robin Gibb – vocals
• Maurice Gibb – guitar, bass, synthesiser
• Albhy Galuten – piano, synthesiser

Album notes

• Recorded as a guideline for Kenny Rogers. The released versions include instrumental tracks from these demos.
• Released on iTunes in 2006 as The Eyes That See in the Dark Demos.
• Gibb's demo of "Islands in the Stream" was not used when the song was chosen for inclusion on the 2001 Bee Gees compilation, Their Greatest Hits: The Record. Instead, Robin and Maurice, sans Barry, recorded a brand-new version.

[edit] 1985: The Eaten Alive Demos

private, 1985 / iTunes, 2006

• Oh Teacher – 4:01
• Experience (Barry Gibb, Robin Gibb, Maurice Gibb, Andy Gibb) – 4:46
• More and More (Barry Gibb, Andy Gibb, Albhy Galuten) – 3:02
• I'm Watching You – 3:40
• Love on the Line – 4:01
• (I Love) Being in Love With You – 4:30
• Crime of Passion – 3:43
• Don't Give Up on Each Other (Barry Gibb, George Bitzer) – 3:52

Personnel

• Barry Gibb – vocals, guitar
• Albhy Galuten – piano, synthesiser

Album notes

• Recorded at Los Angeles around March 1985.
• Recorded as a guideline for Diana Ross.
• Released on iTunes in 2006 as The Eatin Alive Demos. The spelling of "Eaten" was later corrected.
• Notable for their absences are "Eaten Alive" and "Chain Reaction." Though a demo exists, the album's title track was not included as the song is currently the property of its co-author, Michael Jackson. Gibb and Albhy Galuten did not send any demo of "Chain Reaction" to Diana Ross, and evidently Gibb did not want to release whatever work tape they had of it.

[edit] Guilty Pleasures Demos

private, 2005 (unreleased) / Barry Gibb Radio, 2006

• Come Tomorrow
• Stranger in a Strange Land
• Hideaway
• It's Up to You
• Night of My Life
• Above the Law
• Without Your Love
• All Our Children
• Golden Dawn

Album notes

• Recorded as a guideline for Barbra Streisand.
• As of yet, the full-length demos have not been released. All nine songs appeared on the online "Barry Gibb Radio" as two- or three-minute fragments, with a fade at each end.
• Two songs are missing from the above tracklist – "(Our Love) Don't Throw It All Away" and "Letting Go." As both songs were previously released, no new demos were necessary.

Albums[link]

• 1970: The Kid's No Good (Unreleased)
• 1984: Now Voyager
• 1986: Moonlight Madness (Unreleased)
• 1988: Hawks (Soundtrack album)
• 2006: The Eaten Alive Demos (iTunes)
• 2006: The Guilty Demos (iTunes)
• 2006: The Eyes That See in the Dark Demos (iTunes)
• 2006: The Heartbreaker Demos (iTunes)^[14]

Singles[link]

• 1969: "I'll Kiss Your Memory"
• 1970: "One Bad Thing"
• 1978: "A Day in the Life"
• 1981: "Guilty" (duet with Barbra Streisand)
• 1981: "What Kind of Fool" (duet with Barbra Streisand)
• 1984: "Face To Face" (duet with Olivia Newton-John)
• 1984: "Shine, Shine"
• 1984: "Fine Line"
• 1988: "Childhood Days"
• 2006: "Dr. Mann"
• 2006: "Underworld"
• 2007: "Drown on the River"^[15]
• 2011: "All in Your Name" (featuring Michael Jackson)^[16]
• 2011: "Daddies Little Girl" (Barry Gibb composed this song in honor of his daughter Ali Gibb)
• 2011: "Grey Ghost" (dedicated to the people of Japan)

References[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Barry Gibb

External links[link]

• Official Barry Gibb website
• Official Bee Gees website
• Barry Gibb at the Internet Movie Database