We have a few family acts that have made it big in the world of Rock and Roll like the Jacksons and the Osmonds, but no one can stand up to the Bee Gees. Like the Osmonds and Jacksons, these guys were all siblings, had grown up together, and could harmonize. Oh, could they harmonize. From their early hits like “How Do You Mend a Broken Heart” to their disco years, “Jive Talking’” and “Staying Alive,” the Bee Gees made a mark on the world of Rock and Roll that is still felt today.

The Bee Gees had two distinct periods of popularity. They did pretty well in the Sixties when the British Invasion was at its peak. Then, about 1972, they sort of drifted away, and we didn’t hear from them for 3 years. In 1975, they re-invented themselves and became disco kings.

Barry, the oldest of the three brothers, was born on the Isle of Man in 1947. The family moved to Manchester, England, where twin brothers, Robin and Maurice were born in 1949. The youngest brother, Andy was born nine years later, in 1958. He was not part of the trio that became the Bee Gees, but he did have his own career later, including three number ones in 1977 and 1978. Shortly after Andy’s birth, the entire family moved to Australia. It was here that the Brothers Gibb started to hone their harmonies and perform before people and gradually turn into the Bee Gees.

The Trio started recording in 1967 and by 1971, they had put nine songs on the American Top 40. So far, nothing had really killed it. They were doing OK, but couldn’t be considered superstars. That all changed with “How Can You Mend a Broken Heart.” The song was probably written by all three guys, but only Barry and Robin get credit on the label. They originally wrote the song for Andy Williams, but when he passed on it, they decided to record it themselves.

“How Can You Mend a Broken Heart” debuted on the American charts on July 3, 1971 and spent four weeks at number one. The brothers were now on their way. Before the Seventies were over, they would put nine songs at the number one spot. We will visit each of these as we progress through the decade.

Andy Gibb died in 1988 at the age of 30. Two of the official three Bee Gees are also now gone. I mourn their passing because they left us way too early. I remember thinking when John Lennon was killed, “There will never be another performance of the Beatles.” I felt the same way about the Bee Gees when Maurice passed away in 2003. Robin died in 2012. Barry is the only brother left today. He is 72 years old.