Maurice Gibb

**Maurice Ernest Gibb** was born on *22 December 1949* in Douglas, Isle of Man, to drummer Hugh Gibb and Barbara Gibb. From the moment his parents heard the twins harmonising, Maurice’s musical destiny was evident; he joined the skiffle‑rock group the Rattlesnakes at the age of five, a band that would evolve into the legendary *Bee Gees* after the family emigrated to Queensland, Australia in 1958. By the early 1960s the Gibb brothers were already recording, and Maurice quickly proved himself a multi‑instrumentalist, contributing bass, guitar, keyboards and occasional drums to the group’s early releases such as *Spicks and Specks* (1966). His deft touch on the Mellotron and later the Moog synthesiser helped shape the band’s sound, while his occasional lead vocals on tracks like “Lay It on Me” and “Country Woman” showcased a warm, melodic tenor that complemented his brothers’ soaring falsettos. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s Maurice remained the technical backbone of the Bee Gees, overseeing studio sessions, arranging complex disco grooves, and co‑producing hits that topped charts worldwide, culminating in the CBE honour he shared with his brothers in 2002.

Beyond the studio, Maurice’s personal life reflected the same blend of triumph and turbulence that marked his career. He married Scottish pop star Lulu in 1969, a union that ended in divorce in 1975, and later wed Yvonne Spenceley the same year, with whom he had two children, Samantha and Adam. Despite battles with alcohol that threatened his health and relationships, Maurice’s determination to overcome addiction earned him the respect of his family and peers, and he remained sober from the early 1990s until his untimely death from cardiac arrest on 12 January 2003 in Miami Beach, Florida. His legacy lives on through the indelible grooves he crafted, the countless artists he inspired, and the enduring popularity of the Bee Gees’ catalog.