Mr. Natural: The Story and The Short Life Of Andy Gibb
Andy Gibb all but appears in our dreams. When we think of him, it’s probably him in 1978–79, wearing white with a smile, hair flowing, probably singing “Shadow Dancing” and maybe “Love Is Thicker Than Water.” Like our thoughts, Andy Gibb disappears, often forgotten, with a tinge of sorrow.
Andrew Roy Gibb was born on March 5, 1958, the last child of Hugh and Barbara Gibb. The Gibbs had four children: Andy’s sister Lesley and his brothers Barry, Maurice, and Robin, otherwise known as The Bee Gees.
Andy was born into the family business. His parents, Barbara and Hugh, were wartime entertainers, and by the time Andy was 10, his brothers were international superstars, releasing singles such as “1941 New York Mining Disaster,” “To Love Somebody,” and later “Massachusetts.”
As The Bee Gees were experiencing downtime in 1973–74, 16-year-old Andy started a group called Melody Fayre (from the Bee Gees song), which was managed by his mother. By 1975, Andy was ready to step out on his own.
Gibb’s first single, “Words and Music,” was released in 1975, and he performed it on Countdown. Andy Gibb’s solo career happened as The Bee Gees in the first wave of their second comeback and were hitting the charts with songs like “Nights Of Broadway, “Jive Talkin,” and “Fanny Be Tender With Love.”
