Bee Gees, The

THE BEE GEES

Formed: 1958, Brisbane, Australia; Disbanded 2003

Members: Barry Gibb (born Manchester, England, 1 September 1946); Maurice Gibb (born Isle of Man, England, 22 December 1949; died Miami, Florida, 12 January 2003); Robin Gibb (born Isle of Man, England, 22 December 1949).

Genre: Rock, Pop

Best-selling album since 1990: Still Waters (1997)

Hit songs since 1990: "Alone," "Still Waters (Run Deep)"

Afamily vocal group known for its talent and durability, the Bee Gees enjoyed a long, colorful career before disbanding in 2003. Initially finding success during the mid- to late 1960s as a pop outfit inspired by rock pioneers the Beatles, the group recorded in a soulful ballad style before switching in the mid-1970s to R&B-influenced dance music, becoming a leading force behind the era's disco phenomenon. Although the Bee Gees were no longer a hit-making force by the early 1980s, they remained dedicated performers, launching a comeback near the end of the decade that sustained them throughout the 1990s. Due to the group's strong associations with disco—a style often dismissed by serious music fans—the Bee Gees never earned strong critical praise, although certain reviewers have noted the musicality and versatility of their work. By 2001 the Bee Gees were recording albums that qualify as solid examples of pop craftsmanship.

Composed of fraternal twin brothers Robin and Maurice, as well as their older brother Barry, the Bee Gees (a modification of "Brothers Gibb") began performing as children in Manchester, England, inspired by African-American vocal groups of the 1930s and 1940s such as the Mills Brothers. Encouraged by their father, a bandleader, the brothers began performing at movie theaters in 1955. Moving to Brisbane, Australia, in 1958, they began writing songs and singing on television, eventually releasing a single, "Three Kisses of Love" (1962). Returning to England in 1966, the Bee Gees joined forces with producer Robert Stigwood, who arranged for their recordings to be distributed in the United States by the Atlantic/Atco label.

While early hits such as "To Love Somebody" (1967) and "I've Gotta Get a Message to You" (1968) were inspired by the Beatles's easy pop sound, their emotional feel also suggested a strong R&B influence. After enjoying further hits with "Lonely Days" and the lovelorn ballad, "How Can You Mend a Broken Heart" (both 1971), the Bee Gees floundered briefly before latching onto disco, recording in the R&B hotbed of Miami, Florida, and releasing classics such as "You Should Be Dancing" (1976), "Night Fever" (1978), and their most famous song, "Stayin' Alive" (1978). All three songs were featured on the multimillion-selling soundtrack to the 1977 film Saturday Night Fever. Having reached a pinnacle of fame in the late 1970s, the group endured a host of problems throughout the 1980s—particularly the commercial decline of disco and the drug-related death of younger brother Andy in 1988.

Always tenacious, the Bee Gees launched a comeback in the late 1980s, scoring a Top 10 pop hit with "One" in 1989. Proving their ability to stay in touch with the latest trends, they released Size Isn't Everything (1993), incorporating light hip-hop rhythms on the minor hit "Paying the Price of Love." Like much of the group's earlier work, the album is marked by Barry's high falsetto vocals. In 1997 the group members were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, an important recognition of their endurance and influence. This honor led to the recording of a new album, Still Waters (1997). The minor hit "Alone" contains all of the ingredients that ensured the group's ongoing popularity: tuneful melody, smooth harmony vocals, and a likable, accessible sound. The title track "Still Waters (Run Deep)" was also a small hit, its easygoing R&B grooves providing strong support for the brothers' still-potent voices.

After releasing a live album, One Night Only (1999), the Bee Gees returned with This Is Where I Came In (2001), an album encompassing the many styles in which the group has recorded, from Beatles-inspired pop to tough rock. On "Technicolor Dreams," they add a clarinet and shuffling rhythm that suggest the "Dixieland" style of jazz music. Tragedy struck in early 2003, when Maurice died unexpectedly during surgery for an intestinal blockage. Devastated, the two surviving brothers announced their intention to disband.

Largely associated in the minds of listeners with disco, the Bee Gees were a unique, versatile outfit that recorded in a broad range of styles during their nearly forty-year career. Falling out of popular favor in the early 1980s, the group rebounded in the 1990s, releasing diverse, enjoyable albums before Maurice's death forced early retirement in 2003.

SELECTIVE DISCOGRAPHY:

Bee Gees First (Atco, 1967); Odessa (Atco, 1969); Main Course (RSO, 1975); Children of the World (RSO, 1976); Spirits Having Flown (RSO, 1979); One (Warner Bros., 1989); Size Isn't Everything (Polydor, 1993); Still Waters (Polydor, 1997); This Is Where I Came In (Uptown/Universal, 2001). Soundtrack: Saturday Night Fever (RSO, 1977).

WEBSITE:

www.beegeesonline.com.

david freeland