Leo Delibes
French composer (1836-1891)
Robin Gibb was a British singer and songwriter who gained worldwide fame as a member of the legendary pop group Bee Gees. He had a successful solo career and was known for his distinctive soulful voice. The Bee Gees became one of the most successful pop groups of all time, selling over 200 million records.
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About the Robin Gibb
Robin Hugh Gibb was a British singer and songwriter. He gained worldwide fame as a member of the Bee Gees with elder brother Barry and twin brother Maurice. Robin Gibb also had his own successful solo career. Their youngest brother Andy was also a singer.
Gibb was born at the Jane Crookall Maternity Home, Douglas on the Isle of Man, to English parents, Hugh and Barbara Gibb; the family later moved to Manchester for three yearsbefore settling in Redcliffe, just north of Brisbane, Australia. Gibb began his career as part of the family trio (Barry-Maurice-Robin). When the group found their first success, they returned to England, where they achieved worldwide fame. In 2002, the Bee Gees were appointed as CBEs for their “contribution to music”. However, investiture at Buckingham Palace was delayed until 2004.
With record sales estimated in excess of 200 million, the Bee Gees became one of the most successful pop groups of all time. Music historian Paul Gambaccini described Gibb as “one of the major figures in the history of British music” and “one of the best white soul voices ever” owing to his distinctive vibrato-laden soulful voice. From 2008 to 2011, Gibb was president of the UK-based Heritage Foundation, which honours figures in British culture. After a career spanning six decades, Gibb last performed onstage in February 2012 supporting injured British servicemen at a charity concert at the London Palladium. After numerous health problems in his final years, including a battle with colorectal cancer, Gibb died in May 2012 at the age of 62 from liver and kidney failure.
As a musician, Gibb primarily played a variety of keyboards, notably piano, organ and Mellotron on the Bee Gees album Odessa (1969); he also played acoustic guitar and organ on his debut solo album Robin’s Reign (1970).
Frequently Asked Questions
Robin Hugh Gibb was a British singer and songwriter who gained worldwide fame as a member of the Bee Gees alongside his elder brother Barry and twin brother Maurice. He also had a successful solo career.
Robin Gibb was born on December 22, 1949 at the Jane Crookall Maternity Home in Douglas on the Isle of Man.
The Bee Gees became one of the most successful pop groups of all time, with record sales estimated in excess of 200 million.
In 2002, the Bee Gees were appointed as CBEs (Commanders of the Order of the British Empire) for their ‘contribution to music’, though the investiture at Buckingham Palace was delayed until 2004.
Music historian Paul Gambaccini described Robin Gibb as ‘one of the major figures in the history of British music’ and ‘one of the best white soul voices ever’ owing to his distinctive vibrato-laden soulful voice.
Robin Gibb last performed onstage in February 2012, supporting injured British servicemen at a charity concert at the London Palladium.
As a musician, Robin Gibb primarily played a variety of keyboards, notably piano, organ, and Mellotron. He also played acoustic guitar and organ on his debut solo album ‘Robin’s Reign’ (1970).
26 Quotes by Robin Gibb
- 1.
It makes us feel better that everyone out there is thinking of Maurice.
Robin GibbBritish singer (1949-2012)
- 2.
I think for anybody, any family, and I know there are families out there that are going through this even now, that it is the hardest thing in the world. Nobody is ever prepared for it.
Robin GibbBritish singer (1949-2012)
- 3.
We’ve been in each other’s pockets our entire lives.
Robin GibbBritish singer (1949-2012)
- 4.
I’ll never get used to living without Mo, but the painful things that surround what happened to him aren’t so painful any more-not so raw or so new.
Robin GibbBritish singer (1949-2012)
- 5.
You know, we’d just had a birthday, he was… you know, he still had a future out of him, and all I can is he was just one of the most beautiful people in the world… a very gifted man, and it’s a loss to the world, not just for us.
Robin GibbBritish singer (1949-2012)
- 6.
With Maurice suddenly going, I realised… I think I’ve matured. I don’t take things lightly any more.
Robin GibbBritish singer (1949-2012)
- 7.
Nobody will ever take Maurice’s place, and he’ll go on with us and he’ll go on our music. He’ll go on with us as the Bee Gees, and Maurice will always be with us.
Robin GibbBritish singer (1949-2012)
- 8.
When Maurice touched a keyboard, it was like something from a movie, magical. He would always give you something from a movie, and you’d go, what did you just play… immediately inspirational writings, amazing. That’s what we’re going to miss.
Robin GibbBritish singer (1949-2012)
- 9.
I’m not a party person or someone who likes to sit and drink in clubs all night, and never really have been. I have a good time through work.
Robin GibbBritish singer (1949-2012)
- 10.
It just felt like the right time to focus on solo material.
Robin GibbBritish singer (1949-2012)
- 11.
We said we’d fly the flag without him and carry on. I didn’t give him a kiss because I still hadn’t accepted what was happening. I was hoping that some miracle was going to happen. Of course, it didn’t. I wish I had kissed him now.
Robin GibbBritish singer (1949-2012)
- 12.
I hadn’t accepted he was seriously ill. The idea that someone so close to you couldn’t wake up was utterly incomprehensible. Then the doctor came in… Maurice had no brain left. There wasn’t any activity at all.
Robin GibbBritish singer (1949-2012)
- 13.
In the beginning, Barry and I couldn’t decide if we were going got go forward with the name of the Bee Gees or just as Barry and Robin. Now we’ve decided to continue as the Bee Gees because we feel we can, and Maurice would have wanted it.
Robin GibbBritish singer (1949-2012)
- 14.
You’re looking at the Bee Gees right now.
Robin GibbBritish singer (1949-2012)
- 15.
If the heart stops for more than two minutes, you have massive brain death. There are only two minutes between our conscious world and zero. That’s how fragile our consciousness is.
Robin GibbBritish singer (1949-2012)
- 16.
The Bee Gees, to us, was the three brothers. In Maurice’s name, we would respect that and not be the Bee Gees anymore.
Robin GibbBritish singer (1949-2012)
- 17.
Everyone’s looking to the urban scene for inspiration now.
Robin GibbBritish singer (1949-2012)
- 18.
We will pursue every factor, every element, every second of the timeline, of the final hours of Maurice’s life. We will pursue that relentlessly. That will be our quest from now on.
Robin GibbBritish singer (1949-2012)
- 19.
I’d never try to be that distinctive from the Bee Gees’ sound. I’m very proud of being a Bee Gee and am always aware that I’ll be identified as a Bee Gee.
Robin GibbBritish singer (1949-2012)
- 20.
The Bee Gees were always heavily influenced by black music. As a songwriter, it’s never been difficult to pick up on the changing styles of music out there, and soul has always been my favourite genre.
Robin GibbBritish singer (1949-2012)
- 21.
I haven’t really met anyone else who has influenced me, but you never know, it could happen next year or next month. I just like to go with the spur of the moment.
Robin GibbBritish singer (1949-2012)
- 22.
Music became an obsession, and eventually we felt more comfortable with each other then we did with anyone else. The three of us were like one person.
Robin GibbBritish singer (1949-2012)
- 23.
I don’t take things for granted, because everything feels more fragile. It’s made me wonder about mortality and how long you’ve got somebody in the world. I’m more fearful than I used to be.
Robin GibbBritish singer (1949-2012)
- 24.
I’m really happy that I got to work with such fresh talent. In a day when record companies are not particularly good at encouraging young, talented songwriters to come forward and get exposure, I think it’s important to give tomorrow’s songwriters the opportunity.
Robin GibbBritish singer (1949-2012)
- 25.
I find it very, very hard. He was part of the fabric of my life. We were kids together, and teenagers. We spent the whole of our lives with each other because of our music.
Robin GibbBritish singer (1949-2012)
- 26.
As the plane got closer to Miami, I had this terrible feeling he was dying. Maybe he was telling me that he was going. I felt anger, panic, despair and helplessness.
Robin GibbBritish singer (1949-2012)