by Merv Buchanan
A tribute to three of the world’s top singers/songwriters.
Born on The Isle of Man between Great Britain and Ireland and later moving with their family to Australia, brothers Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb, formed The Bee Gees in 1958.
In Australia, they concentrated on songwriting and perfecting the three-part harmonies for which they would become famous. Their first major public performance was as the opening act for Chubby Checker in the Sydney Stadium. The positive audience response convinced them they might have a shot at a successful music career, so they decided to move to England where the opportunities seemed to be.
There, they soon met music entrepreneur Robert Stigwood, who became responsible for much of their phenomenal success. The BeeGees music ranges from soft, heart-felt ballads to disco, and includes nine number-one hits.
They eventually sold more than 120 million records, won 5 Grammys and were inducted into the Rock’n’Roll Hall of Fame. Besides writing all of their own hits, the Gibb brothers also wrote hit songs for Yvonne Elliman, Tavares, Frankie Valli, Samantha Sang, Conway Twitty, Jimmy Ruffin, Barbara Streisand, Dionne Warwick, Diana Ross, Cliff Richard, and the duo Dolly Parton & Kenny Rogers.
“MusicaI Icons” doesn’t begin to describe The BeeGees’ place in music.
Based in Toronto, “The BeeGees Now” showcases the combined voices of Chris Banick, Colum Henry and Dave Lafame. Their popular BeeGees tribute came about when the trio, who were performing in different shows, happened to be sitting backstage together at a music festival in Florida. To pass the time, someone suggested singing a few songs. The
Beach Boys, Beatles and Eagles songs they sang together didn’t sound bad. But The BeeGees’ songs sounded magical.
So the three Canadians agreed to get together and do it again sometime. They eventually did, and it was so much fun and worked so well, they decided to take it on the road.
Their first few shows got such good press that they were picked up by an American concert promoter who soon had them performing for sellout crowds in top theatres across the USA from Florida to California. “The BeeGees Now” show covers the Gibb brothers’ music, from “To Love Somebody” to “Stayin’ Alive” and everything in between. Which is why it is so popular with true BeeGees fans.
Chris, Colum, and Dave have made doing justice to three of the world’s top singer/songwriters their only goal.
In March, The “BeeGees Now” perform in Mexico for the first time. Their shows on March 9 and 10 at the famous Luna Lounge in Bucerias, sold out so quickly that a third show was added on March 8. The trio will also be performing on “Tribute Tuesday,” March 11, at Rancho Santiago, the unique outdoor venue in Paso Guayabo, along the Cuale River, on city bus route 4, just outside Puerto Vallarta.
