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

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 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.

   

   See Also

   Barry Gibb - Songs, Bee Gees & Age

   Bee Gees’ Barry Gibb officially knighted by Prince Charles

2. When did the Bee Gees form?

   

   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 emotionally reflects on losing his brothers

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

   

   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 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?

   

   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

   

   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."