I often get asked what Andy was really
like, and since the media tends to go for
the “sensational” for ratings,  I don’t think his fans have been given
an accurate picture of Andy, the person and the
entertainer. Yes, there was a drug problem - nobody
is denying that - but that was not who Andy was! 
I was a big fan of his from the beginning, and I
was lucky enough to see him in concert, on Broadway
in " Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat”
and to meet him many times so that I slowly
got to know him as a person and friend.  I was always
amazed at Andy’s versatility onstage!   Andrew
Lloyd Webber called Andy the best actor of his
celebrity “ Josephs,” and his the “nightclub act” he
did in Atlantic City and Las Vegas in the ‘80s was
amazing!  Even I didn’t realize how talented Andy was until I
watched him singing everything from his hits
to his brothers’ hits, to the Mills Brothers -- complete
with a “soft shoe” song-and-dance routine! 

As remarkable as Andy’s talents were, the man he
was, was even more special.  I was lucky enough to
see Andy almost every week (and sometimes twice a week)
from December, ‘86 until Jan., ‘88 - in other words,
the whole last year of his life.  Until the time he
was in England, he was happy and healthy and was
enjoying flying small planes, playing tennis every
day, spending time with
his family, and even recording again! 

The Andy that I knew from that special year
(and from the many years before it) is the Andy
the fans could see from his TV appearances and
concerts  -- he was a very sweet, gentle, caring
person who adored his family, was
wonderful and playful with the kids, and had
a wicked sense of humor, like all the Gibb brothers.
He was warm, affectionate, and fun to be around.  He was
always totally open and honest about everything
and was a normal, down-to-earth person who was insecure
about his looks and his talent (if you
can believe that!)   Andy was also involved in
a great many charities, including the American Heart Association
and the Diabetes Research Institute
and helped many people. Sure, Andy wasn’t
perfect and he made mistakes - he
was as human as we all are - but he had to
deal with all his mistakes being
made public knowledge.  Not many people
could stand up to that kind of
scrutiny, and Andy always handled it well.  He
never lied about anything or
denied anything - he always wanted his fans
to know the truth! 

 After Andy passed away, there was an article
in our local Ft. Lauderdale
paper, and the headline read, “Andy Gibb
Remembered as a Caring Man.”  The
music columnist who wrote it said she had
been swamped with calls from people
telling her about how Andy had helped them
and things he had done for them. 
That was also the Andy I knew and will always
love and miss.  Not a day goes
by that I don’t think of him.  Barry said it
best on the VH-1 special - Andy
was a very beautiful person, and that’s how
he should be remembered  - not
for the problems that sometimes get so much
attention in the media!

Karen Witkowski
Co-Founder, “Andy Gibb Memorial Foundation”

Well, my memories of Andy go back to high school.  I remember hearing "I Just Want To Be Your Everything" on the radio and thinking, "I gotta have that song".  I immediately took my baby-sitting money and bought the
album. I played that record on my old stereo for hours upon hours and looked at that gorgeous picture on the cover.  Andy started to appear on television programs and I never missed seeing him on TV. Unfortunately, those were the days before VCR's and the luxury of video taping the shows to replay over again didn't exist.  That made it even more important to watch and not miss a word.  My brothers knew that when Andy was on TV, to not make a sound or there would be hell to pay.  With the release of "Shadow Dancing" came more great songs.  Back in 1978 I had the release on album, cassette and 8-track!We had an 8-track player in our car, so when the car turned on so did the
music of Andy Gibb.  Luckily my parents liked Andy's music too.  About this time the movie, Saturday Night Fever came out and I loved the music from the film.  I had heard of the Bee Gees, and knew some of their older music, but never did I realized that Andy was their brother until later that year!  To me it was so surprising that Andy was their brother since I never made the connection.  Andy was still number one in my heart over this brothers.  My family moved from Pennsylvania to Florida soon after school was out and I swear I don't think I would have made it through without Andy's music.  I had just finished my Sophomore year in high school and was moving away from all my friends.  I literally wore out the 8-track of Shadow Dancing and had to get a new one.  The music kept me sane and somehow I survived.  My friends loved Andy too and they told me they'd think of me when they listened to the album.   I remember listening to each song and wondering what everybody back home was doing.  Luckily the move to Florida didn't work out for my family and we moved back home.  Once again the drive back home to friends and family went fast with Andy's music playing on the car 8-track.The year I graduated brought "After Dark" and is,  in  my opinion, Andy's best work.  Every song is a winner on that album.  The back cover is also my all time favorite picture of Andy.  So adorable!  Anyway, after graduation and getting married, I lost track of Andy.  I did watch him on Solid Gold and I'd always look for him on TV doing something.  I remember him talking about his breakdown after Victoria Principal on Good Morning America.  I had hoped he'd be alright.  Unfortunately, that would not be the case.  I
remember that spring day, like it was yesterday while sitting at my desk at work, I heard on the radio that Andy had died.  I was working at an office
typing and answering phones.  I could not speak or type or anything.  It was as if somebody had told me a close family member had died.  They then played "I Just Want To Be Your Everything" on the radio and I fell apart.  I had to walk out of my office and get to the ladies room fast.  I knew nobody there would understand what  Andy meant to me.  This man was the center of my teenage years.   He brought me so much joy in my life and now he was gone?  I couldn't understand why.  This was so unfair. He had so much more to give,so many more songs to write and sing.  How could this happen?  I watched the news that night and again the story of Andy's death was broadcast.  It was terrible, but I knew that somehow his music would once again get me through.
It did....and it still does.

Debbie Sylvester


My mother was cleaning out her garage and found three records of his, "Shadow Dancing", "After Dark", and "Greatest Hits". I saw my husband off to work, and my three kids off to school and came home to play them when I could be alone. I didn't know just how bad I would hurt listening to them or why I was crying so much. I did an AOL search and found this site. After reading some of the memories of others I knew. When I was young he was all I ever thought about. From the age of 9 until his death when I was 17. I was sure I would somehow marry him and I hated Victoria Principal! Well, I obviously didn't marry him and eventually I got over my crush. Having these records in my possession again brings back all those feelings I had for him. After reading other experiences I don't feel so weird. Thanks, I'll always remember Andy and the joy and love I received from him, even though he never knew it.

Kathi