Robin Gibb
Robin Hugh Gibb, CBE (22 December 1949 – 20 May 2012) was a singer, songwriter and record producer, best known as a member of the Bee Gees. He gained worldwide fame with his brothers Barry and Maurice Gibb. Besides, their younger brother Andy was also a singer. Gibb joined his first band the Rattlesnakes which formed in Manchester, England. Gibb was born on the Isle of Man to English parents, Hugh and Barbara Gibb; the family later moved to Manchester (where Andy was born) before settling in Redcliffe, a suburb of Brisbane, Australia. Gibb began his career as part of the family trio (Barry-Maurice-Robin). When the group found their first success, they returned to England where they achieved worldwide fame. In 2002, the Bee Gees were appointed as CBEs for their "contribution to music", however investiture at Buckingham Palace was delayed until 2004. With record sales estimated in excess of 200 million units, the Bee Gees became one of the most successful pop groups of all time. Music historian Paul Gambaccini described Gibb as "one of the major figures in the history of British music" and "one of the best white soul voices ever". From 2008 to 2011, Gibb was President of the Heritage Foundation, honouring figures in British culture. After a career spanning six decades, Gibb last performed on stage in February 2012 supporting injured British servicemen and women at a charity concert at the London Palladium. On 20 May 2012, Gibb died at the age of 62 from liver and kidney failure brought on by colorectal cancer. As an instrumentalist, he primarily played a variety of keyboards, such as piano, organ and Mellotron on Bee Gees albums Bee Gees' 1st (1967) and Odessa, he also played guitar on his debut solo album Robin's Reign (1970), as well as the scene in Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.