Barry Gibb

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Barry Gibb

Background information
Birth name Barry Alan Crompton Gibb
Born 1 September 1946
Genre(s) Soft rock, Disco
Occupation(s) Songwriter, Producer, Singer
Instrument(s) Guitar, Vocals
Associated
acts		 The Bee Gees

Barry Alan Crompton Gibb CBE (born on 1 September 1946) is a singer, songwriter and producer. He was born in Douglas, Isle of Man, to English parents. With his brothers Robin and Maurice, he formed the Bee Gees, one of the most successful pop groups of all time. The trio got their start in Australia, and found their major success when they returned to England.

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[edit] Early life

Gibb grew up with his family in Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester, England. In 1958 his family moved to Brisbane, Australia, settling in one of the city's poorest suburbs, Cribb Island, which was subsequently obliterated to make way for Brisbane Airport.

[edit] Career as singer/songwriter

It was in Brisbane that he and his brothers, twins Robin and Maurice, formed the Bee Gees, and began recording. Their worldwide success came when they returned to England and began recording with Robert Stigwood. During their career, which spanned five decades, they sold more than 187 million records.

In addition to his career as part of the Bee Gees, Barry Gibb has had a career as a solo artist, and as a songwriter/producer. In 1978, he became the only songwriter to have four straight number one hits in the U.S.A, breaking the John Lennon and Paul McCartney 1964 record. These songs were "Stayin' Alive", "Love Is Thicker Than Water", "Night Fever", "If I Can't Have You". Five of his songs were in the U.S. top 10 at the same time in 1978.

Songs written by Gibb have also been recorded by well over 2,500 other artists. He wrote and produced albums which sold millions for other acts during the 1970s and 1980s, including his younger brother Andy Gibb, Barbra Streisand, Dolly Parton, Kenny Rogers, Diana Ross, Dionne Warwick, Jimmy Ruffin (writer only) and Swedish singer Carola (writer only).

Robin and Barry both received Honorary Degrees of Doctor of Music from The University of Manchester in May 2004. They and Maurice (posthumously) were named CBE (Commanders of The British Empire), presented to them by Prince Charles at Buckingham Palace in 2005.

Barry has been married to wife Linda Gray Gibb since 1970. They have five children: Stephen (1973), Ashley (1977), Travis (1981), Michael (1984), and Alexandra (1991). He has four grand-children: Nina and Angus (Stephen's children), Lucas John Crompton (Ashley's child) and Damien Michael Crompton (Michael's child). Barry owns Johnny Cash's former home in Nashville. He also resides in Miami Beach and England.

[edit] Political activity

On 7 December 2006, Barry Gibb along with around 4,500 other musicians, took out a full-page advertisement in the Financial Times newspaper calling for the British Government to extend the existing 50 years copyright protection for sound recordings in the United Kingdom. The fair play for musicians advertisement 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.

[edit] Trivia

[edit] External links

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