Barry Gibb is a British musician, singer, songwriter and record producer best known for being a member of the Bee Gees. The group was one of the most successful groups and brought the world hits such as “How Deep Is Your Love,” “More Than A Woman” and the disco classic “Stayin’ Alive.”
Gibb is most recognized for his unique vocal tone with a very impressive high-pitched falsetto. And while Gibb has shown off his vast vocal range in his music, he has also proven to be quite the songwriter as he holds similar records to that of John Lennon and Paul McCartney, making him one of the most successful songwriters in history.
With a career spanning over 60 years, it’s not hard to see why Gibb is so well-known and so loved. He was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame alongside his brothers in 1994. In 1997, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the Bee Gees. He was even appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 2002 and was knighted in 2018.
In his personal life, Gibb has sadly faced several losses, as his brothers passed away, making Gibb the only surviving member of the Bee Gees. He has also had ups and downs in his romantic life. However, Gibb found love with the former Miss Edinburgh, Linda Gray. The pair have been married since Sept. 1, 1970, Gibb’s 24th birthday. They have since gone on to welcome a beautiful family together. But even though they’ve stayed loyal to each other, there was once temptation from a well-known actor that could have swept Gray away.
Barry Gibb, Linda Gray (1970), (Reg Burkett/Daily Express/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
Gibb has accomplished a lot over the course of his career, but he has unfortunately also encountered many hardships during his life. One of those hardships was losing several family members. According to The Irish Times, Gibb’s brothers Maurice, Robin and Andy all struggled with handling their fame and turned to substances. Andy died in 1988 at the age of 30. Maurice died in 2003 during an operation. At the time, he and Gibb “weren’t really speaking,” according to The Irish Times. Robin later died of cancer in 2012.
Gibb said that having his wife, Gray, by his side made a difference following the deaths of his brothers. “My brothers had to deal with their demons, but I was married to a lady who wasn’t going to have it,” he explained. “I could bring drugs into the house, but they would end up down the toilet. She never allowed me to go in that direction. I had to deal with my brothers being pretty much out there, but I was lucky.”
Gibb added, “I’ve had to deal with loss, not just my brothers but my mother and father. But what I’ve learned from all of it is that things just roll on, and you roll on with them.” After his brothers passed, Gibb embarked on a solo career.
It’s evident that Gibb’s wife has been by his side through many ups and downs. Prior to marrying Gray, Gibb had been married to Maureen Bates for about four years. They divorced in July 1970, just two months before Gibb married Gray.
