Bee Gees

The Bee Gees were a British and Australian band, originally a pop singer-songwriter combination, reborn as funk and rhythm and blues. The brothers Gibb, consisting of frequent lead vocalist Barry, and the twins, co-lead vocalist Robin, and keyboardist/guitarist Maurice, were born in the Isle of Man in the 1940s.

Early history

The Gibb brothers were born on the Isle of Man to English parents in 1946 (Barry) and 1949 (twins Robin and Maurice). The family returned to father Hugh Gibb's home town of Manchester in the early 1950s where the boys began to sing in harmony, debuting in public on one memorable occasion at a local cinema.

Related Topics:
Isle of Man - Manchester

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In 1958, the Gibb family, including infant brother Andy, moved to Redcliffe, Queensland, Australia and the still very young Brothers Gibb began performing where they could to raise pocket change. They gained the attention of a radio DJ named Bill Gates and gradually made a name for themselves for their harmony singing and Barry's songwriting. By 1960 they were featured on television shows and in the next few years began working regularly (despite child labour laws) at resorts on the Queensland coast. At length Barry drew the attention of Australian star Col Joye for his songwriting, and he helped the boys get a record deal with Festival Records in 1963 under the name "Bee Gees". The three released two or three singles a year, while Barry supplied additional songs to other Australian artists. A minor hit in 1965, "Wine and Women", led to the group's first LP Barry Gibb and the Bee Gees Sing and Play 14 Barry Gibb Songs, but real commercial success eluded them. In 1966 they moved to a new label, Spin, run by Nat Kipner, and were finally allowed enough studio time to develop as artists. In six months the three wrote and recorded enough material for two albums, including a single called "Spicks and Specks" that would become their first major hit in Australia at the end of 1966. But despite that success and the release of their second LP also called Spicks and Specks, by that time the family had decided to return to England and seek their fortunes there.

Related Topics:
1958 - Andy - Redcliffe - Queensland - Australia - Col Joye - Festival Records - 1963 - Barry Gibb and the Bee Gees Sing and Play 14 Barry Gibb Songs - Nat Kipner - Spicks and Specks

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