Music Producer Robert Stigwood Dead At 81
Famed music producer Robert Stigwood — who spent a significant amount of time in Bermuda — has died at age 81, according to TMZ.
“Robert Stigwood, the famed music exec behind the Bee Gees, Cream and several huge movies and musicals has died,” TMZ reports. ”Stigwood was the agent and manger for the Bee Gees as well as rock legends Cream before he went on to form RSO [Robert Stigwood Organisation]. RSO produced famous musicals like Hair and Jesus Christ Superstar.
“His biggest success as a producer though would be the movies Saturday Night Fever. Of course the soundtrack for that movie heavily featured the Bee Gees. He followed that up with the movie Grease in ’78. Stigwood, a native Australian, was 81 years old. It’s unclear, at this point, exactly how he died.”
The Bee Gees 1970′s hit song Stayin’ Alive
Bermudian entertainer Tony Brannon reminisced about the time Mr Stigwood spend on the island, saying that he “was truly generous to Bermuda and was loved by many here.”
Mr Brannon said, “I first met Robert in 1978, right after he finished filming Saturday Night Fever. The Bee Gees even wrote some of the songs here in Bermuda when Robert was living at Palm Grove in Devonshire.
“Robert then bought Wreck Hill Estate and he hosted many stars over the years including The Bee Gees, Andrew Lloyd Webber and Sarah Brightman, Andy Gibb, John Travolta and many more.
“He brought just about everyone to Disco 40 which was a lot of fun. The local calypso band the Bermuda Strollers were playing one night at the new 40 Thieves Club when Ted Ming introduced Robert to the audience as Robert Bigwood. Every one fell about laughing – too funny.
“Robert was a close friend and he was a frequent visitor to Disco 40 and a shareholder. Robert was well known in Bermuda for his annual Boxing Day parties.
“He also hosted Bob Geldof & Simon Lebon for lunch in August of 1985 when they visited Bermuda after LIVE AID. It was an amazing time as John Travolta was staying at Robert’s. Robert invited me and my girlfriend to the premiere of Grease in New York, which was really quite fabulous.
“When you think back to all the music he produced from the Bee Gees, Cream plus all the movies and musicals, Robert Stigwood was an amazing visionary.
“He gave The Bee Gees their start. Put Cream on the map plus Andrew Lloyd Webber & Tim Rice, John Travolta, Andy Gibb and he gave legendary theatre producer Cameron Mackintosh his start.
“So many memories,” added Mr Brannon. “Robert was truly generous to Bermuda and was loved by many here.”
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Thanks to Robert Stigwood for his many contributions to the music world – and to Bermuda. On several occasions, I had the pleasure of meeting him at “Ramsbury” – Patsy Gibbons-Phillips’ home, and I always enjoyed his friendly manner, and his intelligent conversations. May he RIP.
Don’t recall ever meeting him, but always heard so many positive things about Robert Stigwood.