logo

40 years since the Bee Gees song 'Too Much Heaven' topped charts around the world

Odette Odendaal
Jan 29, 2019
11:25 A.M.

January 17, 2019, marked the fortieth year to the day since "Too Much Heaven" topped the charts, but there is a special reason why we pay tribute to this song.

Advertisement

The Bee Gees, well known for their unique sound, formed in 1958. The brothers Robin, Maurice, and Barry Gibb came together because of their passion for singing and songwriting.

The group were in the height of their career during the 1960s and 1970s and produced many chart-topping hits during the disco era, including classics like "How Deep is Your Love," "Stayin’ Alive," and "Saturday Night Fever."

Bee Gees performing on the BBC TV show 'Top Of The Pops', London, 6th March 1969.| Photo: Getty Images

Bee Gees performing on the BBC TV show 'Top Of The Pops', London, 6th March 1969.| Photo: Getty Images

But for the band member, Robin, "Too Much Heaven" was his favorite out of all the songs they created. The three brothers wrote the track along with another classic hit, "Tragedy" during an afternoon off from the making of the movie, "Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band" in 1978.

Originally intended for use in the John Travolta film, "Moment By Moment," Barry Gibb had the track pulled after he watched a rough cut of the film and thought it terrible.

The single got released as part of their 1979 album, "Spirits Having Flown" and shot up the charts after the Bee Gees performed the song at the Music for UNICEF Concert on January 9, 1979.

Advertisement

During the summer of 1978, the Bee Gees announced during a news conference at the United Nations in New York that all royalties generated by the single would go to UNICEF. Their announcement came in celebration and help of children in need as 1979 was International Year of the Child.

$7 million in publishing royalties went a long way towards helping the children, and the then-United Nations Secretary-General, Kurt Waldheim, called the Bee Gee’s charity “an outstanding and generous initiative.”

The group got invited to the White House, where they were personally thanked for their donation by President Jimmy Carter.

According to Carter, he was “not a disco fan” but knew about their music because his daughter Amy was a huge fan.

The legendary group is ranked as one of the world’s best selling artists of all time, having sold over 220 million records worldwide.

Advertisement

In 1997, the Bee Gees got inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame but disbanded the group a few years later following 53-year-old Maurice’s death in January 2003.

In April 2017, CBS aired a special tribute to Barry Gibb, the only surviving brother, with a "Stayin Alive: A Grammy Salute to the Music of the Bee Gees" special.

Star-studded performances included John Legend, Nick Jonas, Celine Dion, Stevie Wonder, Demi Lovato, Ed Sheeran Tori Kelly, and many others, and Keith Urban in particular.

Keith’s rendition of the Bee Gees classic, "To Love Somebody," was unforgettable and moved the crowd with nostalgia and the sheer beauty of the song.

Advertisement
info
Please fill in your e-mail so we can share with you our top stories!
By subscribing, you agree to our Privacy Policy
Advertisement
Related posts

Keith Urban’s Shoes & Nicole Kidman’s Look during Red Carpet Appearance Sparks Reaction

November 09, 2023

Toby Keith Raised His 3 'Great Kids' Adopting His Wife's Daughter – Only One of Them Followed in His Footsteps

February 06, 2024

Nicole Kidman Seen Bottle-Feeding a Lamb in Casual Clothing Doing Chores While on Holiday

December 28, 2023

Nicole Kidman Gives Rare Comment about Her Struggles after Split with Tom Cruise — Details

January 09, 2024

Nicole Kidman & Keith Urban’s Bunya Farm Where Oscar Winner Collects Eggs from Her Chicken Coop

December 14, 2023

Nicole Kidman Was Not Given the Choice to Have More Children as She First Gave Birth after 40

November 17, 2023

Brian Keith’s 3 Spouses Were All Actresses — Facts about His Marriages

December 13, 2023

Toby Keith Highly Praised Wife Tricia Lucus in Final Interview for Being His ‘Best Nurse’ before Death

February 07, 2024

Deidre Hall Went through Four Failed Marriages and Had No One to Call Her Mom until She Was 44

December 06, 2023

Toby Keith's Life before & after He Was Diagnosed with Stomach Cancer – Photos

February 06, 2024

Toby Keith's Wife Worked at Oil Company before They Married — She Fought for His Life like a 'Trooper'

February 06, 2024

Why Cher and Sonny Bono's Widow Are Locked In Legal Dispute – Details of Lawsuit

January 30, 2024

Dying Musician Mom Dedicated Last Song to 7-Year-Old Son – Fans Made Her 'Last Joy' Come True

January 31, 2024

What Happened to Alan Jackson Who Disappeared from the Scenes a Year after Revealing His Diagnosis?

February 13, 2024