Barry Gibb

Sir Barry Alan Crompton Gibb (born 1 September 1946) is a British musician. Along with his younger fraternal twin brothers, Robin and Maurice, he rose to global fame as a founder of the Bee Gees, one of the most commercially successful groups in the history of popular music. Gibb is well known for his wide vocal range, including a far-reaching high-pitched falsetto. Gibb's career has spanned over 70 years.

As a songwriter, Gibb shares the record for most consecutive Billboard Hot 100 number ones, at six, with John Lennon and Paul McCartney. In total, he has written or co-written sixteen Billboard Hot 100 number ones.

In 1994, Gibb was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame with his brothers. In 1997, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, as a member of the Bee Gees. In 2007, Q magazine ranked him number 38 on its list of the "100 Greatest Singers". Guinness World Records lists him as the second most successful songwriter in history, behind Paul McCartney.

Gibb was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2002 New Year Honours for services to music and entertainment, and a Knight Bachelor in the 2018 New Year Honours for services to music and charity. He was also made an Honorary Companion of the Order of Australia on 27 January 2022.

Barry Alan Crompton Gibb was born at Jane Crookall Maternity Home in Douglas, Isle of Man, on 1 September 1946, to Hugh Gibb (15 January 1916 – 6 March 1992), a drummer, and Barbara Gibb (née Pass; 17 November 1920 – 12 August 2016), both Manchester natives. He has English, Irish and Scottish ancestry. Gibb's grandfather Hugh Gibb Sr. was born in Lanarkshire, Scotland in 1892. He has an older sister, Lesley Evans. His second name, "Alan", was after his father's youngest brother, who had died in infancy. According to Hugh Gibb, in a mix of fact and fiction, his third name, "Crompton", was given to honour the Gibbs' ancestor Sir Isaac Crompton (actually Samuel Crompton).

Biography summary from English Wikipedia, photograph via Wikimedia Commons.