Barry Gibb facts: Bee Gees singer's age, wife, children and career explained (2024)

12 June 2024, 16:43 | Updated: 12 June 2024, 16:44

Barry Gibb facts: Bee Gees singer's age, wife, children and career explained (1)

By Tom Owen

The Bee Gees' Sir Barry Gibb is one of the world's best-loved and most respected musicians and singer-songwriters of all time.

From his decades of success as a writer for artists such as Barbra Streisand and Dolly Parton, to his years of performing and producing hit records with brothers Robin and Maurice in the Bee Gees, Sir Barry Gibb is a true icon of pop music.

  • When Barry Gibb and son Stephen sang incredible acoustic duet of Bee Gees' 'Words' and 'Stayin' Alive'
  • Bee Gees: When Barry and Robin Gibb sang moving 'To Love Somebody' for first time after Maurice's death
  • Barry Gibb inviting Maurice's daughter on stage for duet of 'How Can You Mend a Broken Heart' is so moving

But who is his wife and where was he born? Here's all the important facts about the legendary artist.

  1. How old is Barry Gibb and where is he from?

    Barry Gibb facts: Bee Gees singer's age, wife, children and career explained (4)

    Barry Gibb was born on September 1, 1946. He celebrated his 77th birthday in 2023.

    His full name is Barry Alan Crompton Gibb, and he was born in Jane Crookall Maternity Home in Douglas, Isle of Man.

    • Barry Gibb reveals his secret behind 54-year marriage to "special" wife Linda

    His parents were Hugh Gibb (1916-1992), a drummer, and Barbara Gibb (1920-2016).

    Barry's siblings are older sister Lesley Evans, and younger brothers - twins Maurice and Robin, and Andy Gibb.

    Barry Gibb facts: Bee Gees singer's age, wife, children and career explained (5)

    Bee Gees’ Barry Gibb officially knighted by Prince Charles

  2. When did the Bee Gees form?

    Barry Gibb facts: Bee Gees singer's age, wife, children and career explained (6)

    In 1955, Barry Gibb formed the skiffle group The Rattlesnakes, with himself on vocals and guitar, Robin and Maurice on vocals and their friends Paul Frost and Kenny Horrocks also singing.

    • The 20 greatest Bee Gees songs of all time, ranked

    By 1958, when the Gibbs moved home, Frost and Horrocks left the band. The brothers later changed the name to Wee Johnny Hayes and the Blue Cats.

    Later that year, the Gibbs left the UK for Australia. The band soon changed its name to Bee Gees.

    Their talent brought them to the attention of DJ Bill Gates (not that one), and it wasn't long before they secured their first record deal.

    Barry Gibb facts: Bee Gees singer's age, wife, children and career explained (7)

    Barry Gibb emotionally reflects on losing his brothers

  3. Who is Barry Gibb's wife and does he have any children?

    Barry Gibb facts: Bee Gees singer's age, wife, children and career explained (8)

    Barry Gibb's first marriage was to Maureen Bates. They married in 1966 when he was aged 19.

    • When Barry Gibb invited his son and Maurice's daughter on stage for emotional revival of 'Stayin' Alive'

    The couple lived together for a short period, and divorced in 1970.

    While recording Top of the Pops, Barry met the former Miss Edinburgh, Linda Gray. Later in 1970, the couple got married.

    Barry Gibb facts: Bee Gees singer's age, wife, children and career explained (9)

    Barry and Linda have five children: Stephen (born 1973), Ashley (born 1977), Travis (born 1981), Michael (born 1984) and Alexandra (born 1991).

  4. What songs has Barry Gibb written?

    Barry Gibb facts: Bee Gees singer's age, wife, children and career explained (10)

    Dolly Parton interview: 40 years of Islands in the Stream and writing 'Jolene'

    Barry Gibb, a prolific songwriter, has written numerous songs both for the Bee Gees and for other artists. Some of his notable works include:

    For the Bee Gees:

    - 'Stayin' Alive'

    - 'How Deep Is Your Love'

    - 'Night Fever'

    - 'Tragedy'

    - 'Jive Talkin''

    - 'You Should Be Dancing'

    - 'More Than a Woman'

    - 'Too Much Heaven'

    - 'Words'

    - 'To Love Somebody'

    For Other Artists:

    - 'Islands in the Stream' (Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton)

    - 'Heartbreaker' (Dionne Warwick)

    - 'Guilty' (Barbra Streisand)

    - 'Woman in Love' (Barbra Streisand)

    - 'Grease' (Frankie Valli)

    - 'Chain Reaction' (Diana Ross)

    - 'Emotion' (Samantha Sang)

  5. Barry Gibb nearly died when he was a baby

    Barry Gibb facts: Bee Gees singer's age, wife, children and career explained (11)

    When Barry was nearly two years old, he was badly scalded. His mother had made some tea, which she had put on the table, Barry climbed up and pulled the tea pot down, which poured all over him. He had to stay in hospital for two and a half months.

    He later said: "Then the gangrene set in. Because in those days, the advancement of medicine simply didn't apply to people with bad scalds, so you didn't have skin grafts, you didn't have things like that.

    "But this was a particularly bad scald, and I think I had 20 minutes to live at some point. The incredible thing for me is that whole two years is wiped from my memory, the whole period of being in hospital.

    "The idea of being burnt is in there somewhere, but I have no knowledge of it. I've got the scars but I have no knowledge."

Barry Gibb facts: Bee Gees singer's age, wife, children and career explained (2024)

FAQs

How many times did Barry Gibb marry? ›

Barry Gibb
Sir Barry Gibb AC CBE
Years active1955–present
SpousesMaureen Bates ​ ​ ( m. 1966; div. 1970)​ Linda Gray ​ ( m. 1970)​
Children5, including Steve
ParentsHugh Gibb (father) Barbara [Pass] Gibb (mother)
15 more rows

Is Barry Gibb married with children? ›

Barry Gibb's wife is Linda Gray, a former Miss Edinburgh. They married on September 1, 1970. Together, they have five children: Stephen, Ashley, Travis, Michael, and Alexandra.

What happened to Barry Gibb as a child? ›

Barry Gibb nearly died when he was a baby

When Barry was nearly two years old, he was badly scalded. His mother had made some tea, which she had put on the table, Barry climbed up and pulled the tea pot down, which poured all over him. He had to stay in hospital for two and a half months.

Does Barry Gibb have any daughters? ›

Which Gibb had an open marriage? ›

But Robin Gibb managed to break one, all the same. The Bee Gee, 59, has fathered a child with his live-in housekeeper, who is half his age. His wife Dwina is said to be infuriated by the birth even though the couple have an open relationship.

Which Gibb died first? ›

Robin Gibb passed away in 2012 after battling cancer for a number of years, while his twin brother Maurice died in 2003 due to complications of a twisted intestine. Their younger brother Andy Gibb died aged just 30 in 1988 after battling drug addiction and depression for many years.

Why did the Gibb brothers not get along? ›

No sooner had they become famous than the Bee Gees fell out – or, rather, Barry and Robin did: none of the brothers had a clearly defined role in the band, and they ended up arguing over who was the frontman. “Before we ever became famous were the best times of our lives,” he says.

Do any of the Bee Gees' children sing? ›

Barry's two eldest sons, Stephen and Ashley, in particular, went on to pursue music; and eventually collaborated with their father, subsequently helping him revive his career in the 21st century. “They give me that youth,” the Bee Gee once said to Billboard of working with his sons. “They give me that fire.”

What did Maurice Gibb pass away from? ›

Maurice Gibb died in January 2003. His cause of death was volvulus , a complication of bowel obstruction (blockage) that causes twisting of the intestine. Gibb, 53, was a member of the Bee Gees, a pop band that was popular during the 1970s.

Did Bee Gees get their teeth fixed? ›

Robert Gibb (Bee Gees)

Ultra-famous at a distant time in history, the only living member of the band Robert Gibb is rocking his veneers at the age of 76.

How much younger was Andy Gibb than Barry Gibb? ›

The idea of his joining The Bee Gees was often suggested, but the age gap between him and his elder brothers (more than 11 years younger than Barry, slightly more than eight years younger than twins Robin and Maurice) made this impossible. His daughter, Peta Gibb, was married on January 2008 to Matt Weber.

What did Robin Gibb pass away from? ›

Despite coming out of his coma, his colorectal cancer had advanced, and he died in London on May 20, 2012, aged 62. His cause of death was liver and kidney failure. Robin Gibb was buried at the Church of St Mary the Virgin, near his home in Thame, Oxfordshire.

Who is Barry Gibb married to today? ›

Barry Gibb has been married to his wife, Linda Gray, for over five decades. The Grammy-winning musician, singer and songwriter started out as a member of the iconic band the Bee Gees alongside his late brothers, Robin and Maurice.

Did Lulu have a child with Maurice Gibb? ›

Gibb and Lulu married on 18 February 1969 and separated in 1973. Their careers and his heavy drinking forced them apart and they divorced, childless.

Are the Gibb brothers identical twins? ›

Fraternal twins Maurice and Robin Gibb were born on this date in 1949. The brothers achieved fame in the Bee Gees, one of the most successful pop groups ever. #remember #memories #remembering #thebeegees #mauricegibb #robingibb #music #restinpeace.

Was Robin Gibb married when he died? ›

He fathered child with housekeeper, his wife is bisexual, druid priestess. May 22, 2012 — -- As Robin Gibb's family makes plans for his funeral, his devoted wife of 28 years, Dwina Gibb, who remained steadfastly at his bedside, has a interesting family dynamic to contend with.

Who was Andy Gibb's second wife? ›

How much older is Barry Gibb than his brothers? ›

Conversation. Barry Gibb is 3 years older than his twin brothers Maurice and Robin Gibb.

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