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British musician Robin Gibb dies at age 62

Thu, 24 May 2012 15:36:27 GMT

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

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Robin Gibb, 1949-2012.
Image: AVRO.

Robin Gibb, singer, songwriter and member of the musical group Bee Gees, died Sunday in London, England, of complications from colon and liver cancer. He was 62 years old.

Robin, and his twin brother Maurice Gibb, were born December 22, 1949, on the Isle of Man, raised in Manchester, and later lived in Redcliffe, Australia.

While the twins and their older brother Barry Gibb began performing at a young age in England, they later made appearances on television in Australia, but the brothers had already moved back to England by the time they scored their first international hit New York Mining Disaster 1941 in 1967. The three brothers are known for their blended vocal harmonies, but Robin's voice can best be heard on the song I Started A Joke.

After several hits with the Bee Gees, Robin became a solo artist and had one hit in England, called Saved by the Bell. After that, he rejoined his brothers and had more hits in the early 1970s. Throughout the Bee Gees career, Robin shared songwriting duties with his brothers Barry and Maurice.

The Bee Gees had a comeback in the mid-1970's with songs like Jive Talkin' and You Should Be Dancing before Robert Stigwood, who was their first manager, asked them to record songs for the film Saturday Night Fever, which became one of the best selling albums and produced major hits like Stayin' Alive, Night Fever and How Deep Is Your Love. It was during this period that the Bee Gees became known for their contributions to disco music.

Speaking to a reporter from Weekend Australian in 2009, Robin Gibb said, "Since 1967, there have only been three albums that have truly affected the culture, and that's the Beatles' Sgt. Pepper, Fever, and Michael Jackson's Thriller. There's not many people who know what that feels like. We're like the guys who have been to the moon."

For the 100th Anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic in April, Gibb and his son, Robin-John Gibb, wrote a score for The Titanic Requiem, recorded by Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Gibb was too ill to attend the premiere and he fell into a coma later in April.

Preceding Gibb in death were his younger brother Andy Gibb, who was a successful solo recording artist, in 1988 and his twin Maurice in 2003. Gibb is survived his 65-year-old brother Barry, a sister, and mother. He is also survived by his second wife Dwina Murphy and four children.

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Sources [edit]

Claire Noland. "Robin Gibb dies at 62; rose to pop fame as one-third of the Bee Gees" — Los Angeles Times, May 20, 2012
"Robin Gibb, member of the Bee Gees, dies after battle with cancer" — CNN, May 20, 2012
Simon Perry. "Robin Gibb Dies" — People.com, May 20, 2012

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British actor and comedian Sir Norman Wisdom dies aged 95

Tue, 05 Oct 2010 22:13:49 GMT

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

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Sir Norman Wisdom as guest of honour at a car rally in Peel, Isle of Man (2005)

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Tributes are being paid following the announcement late last night that the veteran British actor and comedian Sir Norman Wisdom has died at the age of 95.

He passed away peacefully at the Abbot's Wood nursing home, Ballasalla, Isle of Man yesterday evening. Following a series of strokes over the last 6 months, his health had declined severely.

Sir Norman's career spanned almost seven decades, during which time he starred in 19 films, and 38 sitcoms, most as the inept character "Pitkin", the persistant thorn in the side of his boss, Mr. Grimsdale. His most well known serious role came in the television play Going Gently in 1981, for ITV, in which he played a patient in hospital suffering from terminal cancer.

Following the news, the Albanian Ambassador in the UK, Zef Mazi explained that Sir Norman's death was covered on all the news channels in Albania, where he was exceptionally popular. His material was the only Western-style comedy permitted to be shown in the Communist country. "After Charlie Chaplin, he was the biggest comedy star in Albania. I still remember his character Pitkin and his boss Mr Grimsdale," he said. "He was very popular with everyone from very young people to very old people and he made us laugh at a time, in the communist period, when there were not many reasons to laugh."

The Isle of Man's Chief Minister, Tony Brown MHK, said that he was "deeply saddened" to have heard of the death. He is quoted as having said "[w]e were very fortunate indeed that Sir Norman chose to make the Isle of Man his home. He was a wonderful asset to the local community and made a tremendous contribution to countless Island charities and good causes."

He was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in her conferred role as Lord of Mann on his 90^th birthday in 2005, at the same time being made a Freeman of the Borough of Douglas.

The announcement of Sir Norman's death was confirmed by his son and family in a statement last night.

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Sources [edit]

"Comic actor takes his final bow" — Manx Radio, October 5, 2010

"Sir Norman Wisdom called 'comic genius' in tributes" — BBC News Online, October 5, 2010

"Sir Norman Wisdom dies" — Isle of Man Today / iomtoday.co.im, October 5, 2010

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Two injured in two car crash on Isle of Man

Tue, 26 Jan 2010 00:33:43 GMT

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Isle of Man

Sources [edit]

"Two drivers injured in road crash on the Isle of Man" — BBC News Online, January 25, 2010
Manx Radio. "Motorists in hospital after accident" — Isleofman.com, January 25, 2010

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Somali pirates seize two European tankers, Seychelles yacht

Sat, 28 Mar 2009 18:35:22 GMT

Saturday, March 28, 2009

Somalia

Sources [edit]

"Somali pirates hijack 2 tankers off Somalia" — Associated Press, March 26, 2009
Sebastien Berger. "Pirates seize two European tankers off Somalia" — The Telegraph, March 26, 2009
"Two more tanker hijackings" — Marine Log, March 26, 2009

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