Introduction:
Barry Gibb: Keeping the Bee Gees’ Legacy Alive Through Nashville and New Music
With legendary hits like “Stayin’ Alive”, “How Deep Is Your Love”, and “Words”, the Bee Gees cemented their place in music history. Today, Barry Gibb, the sole surviving member of the iconic trio, is honoring and reimagining their legacy in his latest album, Greenfields: The Gibb Brothers’ Songbook, Vol. 1—a heartfelt project that brings the Bee Gees’ classic catalog to Nashville.
A Nashville Revival of Classic Bee Gees Hits
For Greenfields, Barry teamed up with producer Dave Cobb and recorded at the legendary RCA Studio B in Nashville—a place once graced by Elvis Presley, Roy Orbison, and Dolly Parton. Barry was drawn to Nashville for its authenticity. “I was bitten by Nashville,” he says. “It’s about real songs. This is where I belong.”
He collaborated with some of country music’s biggest names. Little Big Town chose to record “Lonely Days,” Sheryl Crow took on “How Can You Mend a Broken Heart,” and Dolly Parton delivered a tender rendition of “Words.” Recording with Dolly was a special moment—she told Barry, “This is where I stood when I recorded ‘Jolene’ and ‘I Will Always Love You’ in the same afternoon.”
Country Roots and Unexpected Origins
Though born in the UK and raised in Australia, Barry Gibb and his brothers were deeply influenced by American country music. In fact, the Bee Gees wrote multiple songs that became hits for country artists, including “Rest Your Love on Me,” which was recorded by Conway Twitty and hit No. 1.
One of the Bee Gees’ biggest crossover successes was “Islands in the Stream,” made famous by Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers. Surprisingly, the song was originally written for Diana Ross, but Kenny called Barry, asking for a hit, and a timeless duet was born.
A Story of Brotherhood and Loss
Barry co-wrote 16 number-one hits, most of them with his brothers Robin and Maurice, who passed away in 2012 and 2003 respectively. The HBO Max documentary The Bee Gees: How Can You Mend a Broken Heart explores their rise to fame and the impact they had on music across decades.
Though praised by critics and fans alike, Barry admits he’s never watched the film in full. “I can’t handle watching the loss of my family,” he says. “We never weren’t together. After Robin passed, I just didn’t know how to go on. I didn’t know how to be perceived or what to do next.”
For years, Barry says he felt like he was in his own kind of emotional lockdown.
From Ballads to Disco Kings
The documentary also traces the Bee Gees’ incredible transformation from ballad singers in the ’60s to the kings of disco in the ’70s. With the release of “Jive Talkin’” and the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack, the Bee Gees redefined popular music. Their song “Stayin’ Alive” became an anthem for a generation—and, ironically, feels just as relevant today.
“‘Stayin’ Alive’ was inspired by the atmosphere of New York City,” Barry explains. “That energy—it’s what drove the song. You can feel it in every beat.”
The trio’s ability to write instantly memorable melodies is also evident in hits like “How Deep Is Your Love,” which Barry recalls composing during a dinner break on set.
Still Creating, Still Performing
Now in his 70s, Barry continues to make music—not only to preserve the Bee Gees’ legacy but because the music lives on in him. He acknowledges that performing without his brothers is bittersweet, but it’s something he does out of love for the fans and the music itself.
“I want to be wanted,” he says. “If people want to hear it, I’d be honored to perform. It’s lonely up there without my brothers, but I still find joy in it. And that’s what matters.”
Barry Gibb’s Greenfields album and his ongoing dedication prove that the Bee Gees’ music—filled with heart, harmony, and timeless melodies—still resonates powerfully today. In honoring the past, Barry has found a way to move forward, keeping the spirit of his brothers alive in every song.