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Andy Gibb (Andrew Roy Gibb)
Cover of the Shadow Dancing album
Born	March 5, 1958 Manchester, England
Died	March 10, 1988 Oxford, England

Andy Gibb (March 5, 1958 – March 10, 1988) was an Anglo-Australian singer and teen idol, and the younger brother of Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb, also known as the Bee Gees.

Contents 1 Early Biography 2 Andy's Rise To The Top 3 The Fall From Grace 4 The Death Of Andy Gibb 5 Albums 6 Singles 7 External links

Early Biography

He was born Andrew Roy Gibb in Manchester, England, to Hugh and Barbara Gibb. His family emigrated to Australia within months of his birth, settling in Redcliffe, Queensland near Brisbane. Gibb began playing at tourist clubs around Spain's coastal Island of Ibiza, and later the Isle of Man, as a young teenager. The idea of his joining the Bee Gees was often mooted, 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 difficult to achieve. Instead, he embarked on a successful solo career. After returning to Australia in 1975 to hone his craft as a singer and songwriter, Gibb began recording a series of his own compositions, one of which was released as a single on the ATA label, owned by veteran Australian performer, Col Joye. "Words and Music" would eventually reach Top Five on the Sydney music charts in 1976. This breakout would pave the way to an even greater milestone later that year — an invitation from Robert Stigwood (who, at the time, was also the Bee Gees' manager) to launch his international career signed to his label, RSO Records. Gibb soon moved to Miami Beach to begin working on songs with his brother Barry, and co-producers Albhy Galuten and Karl Richardson.

Prior to leaving Australia, Gibb had married his girlfriend, Kim Reeder. They had one child, a daughter named Peta, before their marriage ended in 1978, his work and family commitments having come between them. Notwithstanding, Gibb's personal trials were soon overshadowed by fame and recognition.

Andy's Rise To The Top

In the United States, Gibb became the first male solo artist to chart three consecutive Number One singles on the Billboard Hot 100. In July of 1977, he had his first major hit, "I Just Want to Be Your Everything", a song written by his brother Barry, just as his first album Flowing Rivers broke into the US Top 20, on its way to selling over a million copies. The album's second single "(Love Is) Thicker Than Water" broke in early 1978 amidst the commercial explosion caused by his brothers' contributions to the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack, replacing "Stayin' Alive" at the top of the US charts, and then submitting to "Night Fever" when it reached the summit in mid-March.

Continuing the momentum of his first successes, Gibb began work with the Gibb-Galuten-Richardson production team on his second album Shadow Dancing. The title track, written by all four Gibb brothers, was released as a single in the US in April 1978, and in mid-June began a seven week run at Number One, achieving platinum status. Two further Top Ten singles, "An Everlasting Love" and "(Our Love) Don't Throw It All Away" were extracted from the album, which became another million seller. Despite his impressive accomplishments, the pressures and excesses of such rapid success began to consume Gibb, and eventually he would succumb to drug addiction and the reality of a career in decline.

In 1979, Gibb returned to the studio to begin recording sessions for his final full studio album, After Dark. With drugs impeding his previous ability to write and even fully sing the tracks on his own record, Gibb was only able to forge his performance with nearly intrusive support from brother Barry. In March of 1980 the last of Gibb's Top Ten singles charted just ahead of the album's release. "Desire", was recorded for the Bee Gees' 1979 album Spirits Having Flown, and featured their original track with Gibb's lead vocal dubbed in. A second single, "I Can't Help It", a duet with family friend Olivia Newton-John, reached the Top Twenty. Later in the year, Andy Gibb's Greatest Hits was released as a finale to his contract with RSO Records, with two new songs: "Time Is Time" (number 15 in January 1981) and "Me (Without You)" (Gibb's last Top Forty chart entry) shipped as singles.

The Fall From Grace

A well publicised affair with actress Victoria Principal ensued, while Gibb signed to several projects outside of the recording studio, including acclaimed performances in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat on Broadway, The Pirates of Penzance in Los Angeles, and a short-term stint as co-host of a TV's Solid Gold. However, as Gibb's drug use intensified, he was unable to commit to regular performances and tapings, and was eventually removed from each of these endeavours. His romance with Principal also ended a short time later, but not before recording and releasing a vanity duet of the Everly Brothers' classic "All I Have To Do Is Dream". This would be Gibb's last official single, and his last US chart entry, peaking at number 51.

After seeking treatment for his drug addiction at the Betty Ford Clinic in the mid-1980s, Gibb toured small venues with a stage show of his greatest hits and covers, and appeared in guest-starring roles on several television situation comedies and game shows. Although his performances were well-received, they failed to return him to the height of his past successes. In 1987, with his debts far outweighing his income, Gibb was forced to declare bankruptcy.

Determined to revive his recording career, Gibb returned to work alongside brothers Barry and Maurice. They produced a series of demo recordings, which would eventually secure him a contract with the UK branch of Island Records. One of the demos, "Man On Fire", was released posthumously on the 1991 Polydor anthology, Andy Gibb, while another demo, "Arrow Through The Heart", though unreleased to the present day, would be featured on an episode of VH1's series Behind the Music.

The Death Of Andy Gibb

Ironically, "Arrow Through The Heart" included lyrics about death that would prove to be prophetic for Andy ("I'm too young to die"). He travelled to England to fulfil the label's request for more songs, moving into brother Robin's estate in Oxfordshire. Isolated and underinspired, he turned to drinking heavily, and fell ill. On March 7, 1988, Andy was taken to the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford complaining of stomach pains. Hidden even from those who were closest to him, Andy's illness was tempered by a previously diagnosed heart condition. Three days later, on the morning of March 10, 1988, Andy Gibb died of myocarditis — an inflammation of the heart muscle at the age of 30. His sudden death became fodder for tabloids. His body was brought back to Los Angeles, California for interment in Forest Lawn - Hollywood Hills Cemetery.

Albums

US chart positions follow parenthetically, if applicable

• Flowing Rivers, RSO, 1977 (US #19)
• Shadow Dancing, RSO, 1978 (US #7)
• After Dark, RSO, 1980 (US #21)
• Andy Gibb's Greatest Hits, RSO, 1980 (US #49)
• Andy Gibb, Polydor, 1991
• Andy Gibb: Millenium, Polydor, 2001

Singles

US chart positions follow parenthetically, if applicable

• "Words and Music / Westfield Mansions" (Australia), ATA, 1976
• "I Just Want To Be Your Everything, RSO, 1977 (US #1, 4 weeks)
• "(Love Is) Thicker Than Water", RSO, 1978 (US #1, 2 weeks)
• "Shadow Dancing", RSO, 1978 (US #1, 7 weeks)
• "An Everlasting Love", RSO, 1978 (US #5)
• "(Our Love) Don't Throw It All Away", RSO, 1978 (US #9)
• "Desire", RSO, 1980 (US #4)
• "I Can't Help It" (Duet with Olivia Newton-John, RSO, 1980 (US #12)
• "Time Is Time", RSO, 1980 (US #15)
• "Me (Without You)", RSO, 1981 (US #40)
• "All I Have To Do Is Dream" (Duet with Victoria Principal), RSO, 1981 (US #51)

External links

• Andy Gibb Lyrics
• Andy Gibb Tribute Site

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