Robin Gibb: 1949-2012

Robin Gibb performs in the park of Ledreborg Castle near Roskilde, Denmark, on Aug. 15, 2009. Gibb, who with his brothers Barry and Maurice performed as The Bee Gees, helped define the disco era with such dance floor classics as "Stayin' Alive," "Jive Talkin'," and "Night Fever" - catchy songs with falsetto vocals and a relentless beat that became familiar pop culture mainstays.

Gibb, 62, died Sunday, May 20, 2012, following a long battle with cancer and intestinal surgery, his family announced in a statement.

Robin Gibb of the Bee Gees is pictured in March 1967.

The Bee Gees (Barry, Robin, & Maurice Gibb) appear on the Dutch music program "Twien" in 1968.

The Bee Gees, from left, Maurice, Barry and Robin Gibb, join actor Jim Brown, right, on Stage 14 of Paramount Studios during a disco party for the premiere of "Saturday Night Fever" in Los Angeles on Dec. 8, 1977.

From left, Robin, Barry and Maurice Gibb of the Bee Gees pose for a photo on July 31, 1978.

The Bee Gees, born in England but raised in Australia, began their career in the musically rich 1960s but it was their soundtrack for the 1977 movie "Saturday Night Fever" that sealed their success. It became one of the fastest-selling albums of all time with its innovative fusion of harmony and pulsing beats, and produced four Number 1 hits, including "Stayin' Alive," "How Deep Is Your Love," "Night Fever" and "If I Can't Have You." The album also featured "More Than a Woman" and "You Should Be Dancing."

Maurice Gibb, Barry Gibb and Robin Gibb of the Bee Gees perform on Jan. 1, 1979.

After several hits in Australia, the Bee Gees' career started to really take off when they returned to England in 1967 and linked up with promoter Robert Stigwood. After several hits and successful albums, Robin Gibb left the group in 1969 after a series of disagreements, some focusing on whether he or Barry should be lead vocalist. He released some successful solo material - most notably "Saved by the Bell" - before rejoining his brothers in 1970 and scoring a major hit with "How Can You Mend a Broken Heart."

The Bee Gees, from left, Maurice, Robin and Barry Gibb, sing at a concert on Nov. 6, 1979, in Miami, Fla.

The Gibbs were born in England on the Isle of Man, but moved to Australia with their parents in 1958 and began their musical career there. They had been born into a musical family, with a father who was a drummer and bandleader and a mother who liked to sing.

The Bee Gees, (left to right, Robin, Maurice and Barry Gibb) pose with their parents, Hugh and Barbara Gibb, on Jan. 10, 1979. The Gibbs were at a party following the television screening of their UNICEF show in New York.

From left, Robin, Barry and Maurice Gibb of the Bee Gees appear backstage after they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame during a ceremony in Cleveland, Ohio, on May 6, 1997.

The Bee Gees, from left, Maurice, Robin and Barry Gibb, perform on Dec. 30, 2001.

Musician Robin Gibb of the Bee Gees kisses his prize after he received it at the World Award ceremony in Hamburg, Germany, on Oct. 22, 2003.

Barry Gibb, left, and Robin Gibb, right, clown around as they pose for pictures after receiving honorary degrees from the University of Manchester on May 12, 2004, in Manchester, England.

Former Bee Gees singer Robin Gibb performs a song at the beginning of a show match between former German tennis star Steffi Graf and Argentina's Gabriela Sabatini on Sept. 25, 2004, in Berlin.

Musician Robin Gibb arrives at the Adopt-A-Minefield benefit gala in support of landmines victims on May 28, 2005, in Neuss, Germany.

Robin Gibb takes a moment during his concert in Singapore on Aug. 23, 2005.

Robin Gibb, left, and Barry Gibb of the Bee Gees arrive for The Ivor Novello Awards on May 25, 2006, in London.

From left, Barry Gibb, Yvonne Gibb, (wife of Maurice Gibb) and Robin Gibb of the Bee Gees appear on stage with BMI CEO Del Bryant at the 55th Annual BMI Pop Awards on May 15, 2007, in Beverly Hills, Calif.

Founding member of the Bee Gees Robin Gibb smiles following his election, for a period of three years, as CISAC (The International Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers) President on June 1, 2007, in Brussels.

Musician Robin Gibb performs at the Dubai International Jazz Festival in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on March 1, 2008.

Singer Robin Gibb of the Bee Gees gestures during the official opening press conference for the Popkomm music fair on Oct. 8, 2008, in Berlin.

Robin Gibb performs during the German Opera Ball at the Alte Oper on Feb. 28, 2009, in Frankfurt, Germany.

Musicians Barry Gibb and Robin Gibb of the Bee Gees attend the 25th Annual Rock And Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at the Waldorf-Astoria on March 15, 2010, in New York.

Robin Gibb arrives at the World Music Awards 2010 on May 18, 2010, in Monte-Carlo, Monaco.

Singer Robin Gibb holds his laudatory speech for John Travolta during the 46th Golden Camera awards on Feb. 5, 2011 in Berlin.