Andy Gibb facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Andy Gibb
Gibb in 1979
Born	Andrew Roy Gibb (1958-03-05)5 March 1958 Stretford, England
Died	10 March 1988(1988-03-10) (aged 30) Oxford, England
Resting place	Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Los Angeles, California, US
Occupation	Singer songwriter actor
Years active	1967–1988
Spouse(s)	Kim Reeder ​ ​ (m. 1976; div. 1978)​
Children	1
Parent(s)	Hugh Gibb (father)
Relatives	Barry Gibb (brother) Robin Gibb (brother) Maurice Gibb (brother) Steve Gibb (nephew)
Musical career
Origin	Redcliffe, Queensland, Australia
Genres	Disco pop rock
Instruments	Vocals guitar
Labels	RSO Polydor
Associated acts	Bee Gees

Andrew Roy Gibb (born March 5, 1958 – died March 10, 1988) was a talented English singer, songwriter, and actor. He was the youngest brother of Barry, Robin, and Maurice, who became famous as the Bee Gees.

Andy Gibb became very popular in the late 1970s and early 1980s. He had eight songs reach the Top 20 in the US. Three of his songs even hit number-one: "I Just Want to Be Your Everything" (1977), "(Love Is) Thicker Than Water" (1977), and "Shadow Dancing" (1978). He also co-hosted the TV show Solid Gold and acted in stage musicals like The Pirates of Penzance and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Sadly, Andy Gibb passed away on March 10, 1988, just five days after his 30th birthday.

Life and Music Career

Early Life and First Songs (1958–1975)

Andrew Roy Gibb was born on March 5, 1958, in Stretford, England. He was the youngest of five children. His older siblings were his sister, Lesley, and his three brothers, Barry, Robin, and Maurice. These three brothers later formed the famous group, the Bee Gees.

When Andy was six months old, his family moved to Queensland, Australia. They lived on Cribb Island, near Brisbane. After moving around Australia, Andy returned to the United Kingdom in 1967. This was when his older brothers, the Bee Gees, were becoming famous worldwide.

His mother, Barbara, once described young Andy as "A little devil, a little monster." She said he would sometimes skip school to sleep with his horses. He would come home smelling of the stable, but always claimed he had been at school.

Andy left school at 13. His brother Barry gave him an acoustic guitar. Andy started playing at tourist clubs in Ibiza, Spain, where his parents lived for a time. Later, he played on the Isle of Man, where his brothers were born.

In 1974, Andy formed his first band, Melody Fayre. His mother, Barbara, managed the group. They played regularly at hotels on the Isle of Man. Andy's first recorded song was "My Father Was a Rebel" in 1973, which his brother Maurice helped produce.

His brother Barry encouraged Andy to return to Australia in 1974. Barry thought Australia would be a good place for Andy to learn and grow as a musician, just like it had been for the Bee Gees. Andy recorded several of his own songs there. His first single, "Words and Music", was released only in Australia and New Zealand. It became a Top Twenty hit in Sydney in 1976.

Becoming a Star (1976–1980)

Andy Gibb married Kim Reeder on July 11, 1976. They moved to West Hollywood. Their daughter, Peta, was born in Australia in 1978, after Andy and Kim had separated. They later divorced that year.

Robert Stigwood, who managed the Bee Gees, signed Andy to his record label, RSO Records, in 1976. Andy then moved to Miami Beach, Florida. There, he started working on songs with his brother Barry and producers Albhy Galuten and Karl Richardson.

In late 1976, Andy recorded his first album, Flowing Rivers, at Criteria Studios in Miami. Barry produced the album and sang backup. The first song released from the album was "I Just Want to Be Your Everything". Barry wrote this song. It quickly became a number-one hit in the United States and Australia. It was also the most played song of the year.

In September 1977, Flowing Rivers became a million-selling album. It included another number-one single, "(Love Is) Thicker Than Water", which Andy co-wrote with Barry. This song became a hit in early 1978. It even replaced the Bee Gees' "Stayin' Alive" at the top of the US charts.

Andy then worked on his second album, Shadow Dancing, released in April 1978. This album was his most successful in America and Canada. The title song, written by all four Gibb brothers, was released as a single. It stayed at number-one for seven weeks and became the top song of 1978. Andy Gibb was the first male solo artist to have three number-one singles in a row on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Two more Top Ten songs, "An Everlasting Love" and "(Our Love) Don't Throw It All Away", also came from this album.

In 1979, Andy performed with the Bee Gees, ABBA, and Olivia Newton-John at the Music for UNICEF Concert. This concert was broadcast worldwide. He then recorded his last studio album, After Dark. In March 1980, "Desire" became his last Top Ten single. Another song, "I Can't Help It", was a duet with his friend Olivia Newton-John. It reached the top 20.

Later in 1980, Andy Gibb's Greatest Hits was released. It included two new songs: "Time Is Time" and "Me (Without You)". After this, his record label, RSO Records, ended his contract.

Later Career and Performances (1981–1986)

Andy Gibb performing at a gala event in 1981

In 1981, Andy Gibb met actress Victoria Principal. During their relationship, Andy started working on projects outside of music. He co-hosted the TV music show Solid Gold from 1981 to 1982. He also performed in the musical The Pirates of Penzance in Los Angeles. Later, he starred in Andrew Lloyd Webber's Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat on Broadway. However, Andy was eventually let go from both Joseph and Solid Gold because he often missed performances.

A producer for Joseph, Zev Buffman, said that when Andy was at the theater, he was wonderful. But he wasn't there enough. He added that Andy was "all heart, but he didn't have enough muscle to carry through."

In August 1981, Andy and Victoria Principal released a duet of "All I Have to Do Is Dream". This was Andy's last official single and his last song to appear on the US charts. Their relationship ended soon after.

In 1984 and 1985, Andy performed successfully at the Riviera hotel in Las Vegas. His family encouraged him to get help for his health challenges. He stayed at the Betty Ford Center in 1985. After this, Andy began touring smaller venues. He performed his hit songs and other popular covers. He also made guest appearances on TV shows like Punky Brewster and Gimme a Break!. After a tour in East Asia, he regularly performed in Las Vegas and Lake Tahoe. In 1984, he was the main performer at the Viña del Mar Festival in Chile.

Attempted Comeback and Final Days (1987–1988)

In 1987, Andy went through another health program. He felt he had overcome his challenges and was ready for a comeback.

Andy wanted to get a new record deal for an album in 1988. He went back to the studio in June 1987 and recorded four songs. One song, "Man on Fire," was released after his death in 1991. Another song, "Arrow Through the Heart", was the very last song Andy ever recorded. It was later included in the Bee Gees' Mythology box set in 2010. His brothers Barry and Maurice helped write these songs.

In early 1988, Barry tried to arrange a new record deal for Andy in England. But when Andy arrived in England in January 1988, he struggled. He missed meetings with the record company, and the deal was never signed.

Death

On March 5, 1988, Andy Gibb celebrated his 30th birthday in London. Two days later, he went to John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford because he had chest pains.

Andy Gibb's headstone

On March 10, 1988, Andy Gibb's doctor told him more tests were needed. Shortly after, Andy became unconscious. He passed away due to myocarditis. This is an inflammation of the heart muscle, most likely caused by a virus.

Andy Gibb's body was returned to the United States. He was buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Hollywood Hills, Los Angeles. His headstone reads: "Andy Gibb / March 5, 1958 – March 10, 1988 / An Everlasting Love," which is the title of one of his hit songs.

Legacy

The Andy Gibb Memorial Foundation helps charities that Andy supported. These include the American Heart Association, the American Cancer Society, and the Diabetes Research Institute.

Awards and Nominations

Andy Gibb was nominated for two Grammy Awards and two American Music Awards.

Grammy Awards

American Music Awards

Filmography

Television

See also

In Spanish: Andy Gibb para niños