The tributes have been pouring for Robin Gibb, the Bee Gees man who yesterday died from cancer. He was 62.
Along with his brothers Barry and Maurice, he sold over 200 million albums and helped define the 1970s disco era with massive worldwide hits like ‘Stayin’ Alive’, ‘Jive Talking’, ‘Night Fever’, ‘How Deep Is You Love’ and ‘You Win Again’.
“Everyone should be aware that the Bee Gees are second only to Lennon and McCartney as the most successful songwriting unit in British popular music,” reflects broadcaster Paul Gambaccini. “Their accomplishments have been monumental. Not only have they written their own number one hits, but they wrote huge hit records for Barbra Streisand, Diana Ross, Dionne Warwick, Celine Dion, Destiny's Child, Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers, the list goes on and on.
“What must also be said is Robin had one of the best white soul voices ever. He was singing lead on his first number one when he was 17, that was ‘Massachusetts.’”
Those sentiments were echoed by former British prime minister Tony Blair who says: “Robin was not only an exceptional and extraordinary musician and songwriter, he was a highly intelligent, interested and committed human being. He was a great friend with a wonderful open and fertile mind and a student of history and politics. I will miss him very much. My thoughts and prayers are with (his wife) Dwina and all the family.”
Liam Gallagher weighed in with a simple, “Robin Gibb. Legend”; Stevie Nicks added, “The soundtrack of my youth is vaporizing one artist at a time with these iconic musical losses lately” and Justin Timberlake proffered, “We have lost a truly brilliant musician today. One of my idols. My heart goes out to the Gibb family in this time of sorrow.”
There were also poignant words from seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong who was seriously ill himself with cancer in the 1990s: “RIP Robin Gibb. Continues to sadden me to see cancer take our loved ones. Gotta put a stop to it.”