Bee Gees Singer Robin Gibb Dies Of Cancer

News_Editor · May 21, 2012

Bee Gees singer Robin Gibb dies of cancer < br />

2012-05-21 23:38:42 GMT+7 (ICT)

LONDON, ENGLAND (BNO NEWS) -- Robin Gibb, the singer who formed the legendary group the Bee Gees with his two other brothers and together defined the disco-era in the 1970s, died at a hospital in England on Sunday, his family and sources said. He was 62.

Publicist Doug Wright said in a statement that Gibb died on Sunday after a long battle with cancer but gave no other details. However, sources said the singer is believed to have passed away at a hospital in the Chelsea area of West London where he was being treated since his health declined.

"The family of Robin Gibb, of the Bee Gees, announce with great sadness that Robin passed away today following his long battle with cancer and intestinal surgery," Wright said in a written statement, giving no other details. "The family have asked that their privacy is respected at this very difficult time."

Born in the Isle of Man in the United Kingdom in December 1949, Gibb and his family later moved to Manchester before settling in the Australian city of Brisbane. He and his two brothers - Barry Gibb and Maurice Gibb - began their music career in the late 1950s but it was not until their 1967 songs 'New York Mining Disaster 1941' and 'To Love Somebody' that they rose to fame.

The group's soundtrack for the 1977 movie "Saturday Night Fever" sealed their success, becoming the top-selling album until Michael Jackson's "Thriller" took the title. Even today, the album remains one of the best-sold albums in music history, having been sold at least 40 million times.

In all, the brothers had nine No. 1 songs and sold more than 200 million records, making them one of the best-selling music artists of all time. It puts them just behind great music legends such as The Beatles, Elvis Presley, Michael Jackson, Madonna and Elton John.

Gibb is the second disco-era star to die in less than a week. Donna Summer, known as 'the Queen of Disco', died of cancer in southern Florida on Thursday morning. Summer, 63, received worldwide success during the 1970s and early 1980s and is probably best remembered for successful songs such as 'Love to Love You Baby,' 'Last Dance,' 'Hot Stuff,' 'Bad Girls,' and 'She Works Hard for the Money.'

After Maurice Gibb died in January 2003, Barry Gibb is now the last surviving member of the Bee Gees.