Who Was the Most Generous Gibb Brother?

Denise Ames April 21, 6:00 am

27th February 1980: Andy Gibb (1958 - 1988), British singer and younger brother of the Bee Gees. (Photo by Stuart Nicol/Evening Standard/Getty Images)a — Stuart Nicol/Evening Standard/Getty Images

Even as baby brother to megastars the Bee Gees, the multitalented Andy Gibb could hold his own. Not only extraordinarily successful in the entertainment industry during his short life, the youngest Gibb also contributed a lot to charity throughout his career.

Andy began performing live onstage in 1975 as a teenager, opening for huge rock groups like the Sweet and the Bay City Rollers with his band Zenta. Just a few years later, as a solo artist, he became the first to claim the No. 1 spot three times in a row on Billboard charts. He burst onto the music scene with 1977’s “I Just Want to Be Your Everything,” followed by “(Love Is) Thicker Than Water” and “Shadow Dancing.” His talent garnered him two nominations each for both Grammy and American Music Awards.

During the ’80s, Andy rounded out his incredible career utilizing his other talent: acting. Besides his guest-starring roles on Punky Brewster and Gimme A Break!, he played the lead in the U.S. national tour of The Pirates of Penzance and landed on Broadway starring in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Joseph and His Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at age 24.

GIMME A BREAK, (episode: The Groupie, Season 3), Lauri Hendler, Nell Carter, Andy Gibb, 1981-87,

Like his older brothers Barry Gibb, Maurice Gibb and Robin Gibb, Andy put his massive appeal to good use by supporting many worthy charities. He began with walk-a-thons and Toys for Tots events. As his popularity grew, so did his philanthropy. In 1979, his older brothers donated the proceeds from their No. 1 hit “Too Much Heaven” to UNICEF, raising millions for hunger relief. During the worldwide broadcast of the Music for UNICEF Concert that same year, Andy sang a duet with Olivia Newton-John. (ABBA and the Bee Gees also appeared.)

Andy donated much of his time to support and raise funds for several other charities as well, including the American Heart Association, American Cancer Society, and his brother Barry’s Love and Hope Charity, benefitting diabetes research. An avid tennis player, Andy participated in annual tournaments and performed during telethons to raise money for Love and Hope. In 1983, Andy appeared on the Jerry Lewis MDA Labor Day Telethon and performed “I Just Want to Be Your Everything” to millions.

His philanthropy continued even after his passing in March of 1988, with the establishment of The Andy Gibb Memorial Foundation by his family to keep his memory and giving alive. The foundation was set up to support causes he cared about. When his brother Maurice died in 2003, the family requested donations be made in lieu of flowers to Andy’s foundation.