Barry Gibb's forty-five year career in the music industry is a testament to his versatility and ability to adapt to changing musical trends. Born on September 1, 1946, Barry was the second of five children to parents Barbara and Hugh Gibb. He, along with his twin brothers Maurice and Robin, formed the pop group The Bee Gees in the early 1960s, named after two people who helped launch their career.
The Gibbs emigrated to Australia shortly after the birth of their youngest sibling Andy, and the family performed anywhere and everywhere they could to raise some pocket money. After securing a spot on local television shows, they were eventually signed to a record label in 1963. From the outset, Barry was the primary creative force behind the music of the Bee Gees, penning the majority of their hit songs in the 1960s as well as countless other songs for other artists.
In the 1970s, the music industry underwent a drastic change, with singers from previous eras struggling to remain relevant. Barry helped pave the way for the Bee Gees' most memorable decade, coming up with the idea of performing in their now-trademark falsetto's, as well as helping to launch the career of his youngest sibling, Andy Gibb. Barry became a mentor to the young Andy, guiding him in his initial foray into the music industry, by penning the majority of his hit singles.
The 1980s saw Barry struggle to remain relevant to the music industry, as the onset of the electro-funk styling of bands such as INXS saw the Bee Gees labeled as "uncool." Barry refused to be swayed by the Bee Gees' dwindling record sales, and continued to record as both part of the Bee Gees, while also making his mark as a songwriter for other artists, penning memorable hit songs for artists as diverse as Kenny Rogers, Diana Ross, and Olivia Newton-John.
In 1988, Barry was heartbroken when brother Andy Gibb succumbed to years of substance abuse, and died at the age of 30. Just months before it was decided that Andy would be joining the Bee Gees as the fourth member, and Andy's death took a toll on Barry for the remainder of that decade, and his musical creativity diminished.
While Barry continued to record in the early 1990s, it wasn't until 1997 that the Bee Gees returned to the fore, with the critically hailed "Still Waters" album. In late 1997, Barry, Robin, and Maurice performed the legendary "One Night Only" concert at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States, and the DVD recording of the concert has gone on to become the highest selling music DVD in Australian history, remaining on the ARIA DVD chart for over ten years.
In 2003, Maurice Gibb died of a cardiac arrest due to a congenital birth defect, bringing to a close the forty-year career of The Bee Gees. However, Barry continues to remain in the public eye, as he has become more politically active, generating controversy for his staunch criticism of the Schappelle Corby trial and lack of copyright protection for sound recordings in the UK.
Few singers can boast having a number one record in five consecutive decades as Barry can, and with artists such as Faith No More, Wyclef Jean, and Ronan Keating covering Barry's songs, Barry's timeless lyrics continue to reach out to a new generation of listeners.
