Gibson Brothers
Encyclopedia
The Gibson Brothers are a France
based musical group
, who had their greatest success during the disco
boom of the late 1970s. Their best known hit single
s included "Cuba" and "Que Sera Mi Vida".
Gibson Brothers is also the name of an unrelated, New York
-based country music
and bluegrass
group.
s) and Alex (vocals, keyboards
) were born on Martinique
in the West Indies
. They recorded
their first single "Come To America" in Paris
in 1976, and both it and its follow-up "Non Stop Dance" made the charts
in Europe
, where they toured successfully. The following year they released "Heaven", which was picked up by TK Records
in the U.S.
In 1978 they recorded "Cuba". The mix of disco beats, Latin percussion, soulful vocals and a catchy tune propelled the song
to #1 in several countries, and earned them four gold records
worldwide. In the UK
it made #41 on its initial release, and #12 when reissued in 1980. Like their other hits, it was written
and produced
by Daniel Vangarde
and the Belgian
producer Jean Kluger
, who also recorded hits by Ottawan, Sheila B. Devotion and others. Vangarde (aka Daniel Bangalter) is the father of Thomas Bangalter
of Daft Punk
.
The Gibson Brothers had three further big hits in 1979 and 1980, "Ooh! What A Life", "Que Sera Mi Vida" (which sold over 5 million copies worldwide), and "Mariana". They have continued to record and tour worldwide.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
based musical group
Band (music)
In music, a musical ensemble or band is a group of musicians that works together to perform music. The following articles concern types of musical bands:* All-female band* Big band* Boy band* Christian band* Church band* Concert band* Cover band...
, who had their greatest success during the disco
Disco
Disco is a genre of dance music. Disco acts charted high during the mid-1970s, and the genre's popularity peaked during the late 1970s. It had its roots in clubs that catered to African American, gay, psychedelic, and other communities in New York City and Philadelphia during the late 1960s and...
boom of the late 1970s. Their best known hit single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
s included "Cuba" and "Que Sera Mi Vida".
Gibson Brothers is also the name of an unrelated, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
-based country music
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
and bluegrass
Bluegrass music
Bluegrass music is a form of American roots music, and a sub-genre of country music. It has mixed roots in Scottish, English, Welsh and Irish traditional music...
group.
Career
The three brothers, Chris (born 20 June 1954) - (lead vocals, percussion), Patrick (vocals, drumDrum
The drum is a member of the percussion group of musical instruments, which is technically classified as the membranophones. Drums consist of at least one membrane, called a drumhead or drum skin, that is stretched over a shell and struck, either directly with the player's hands, or with a...
s) and Alex (vocals, keyboards
Keyboard instrument
A keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
) were born on Martinique
Martinique
Martinique is an island in the eastern Caribbean Sea, with a land area of . Like Guadeloupe, it is an overseas region of France, consisting of a single overseas department. To the northwest lies Dominica, to the south St Lucia, and to the southeast Barbados...
in the West Indies
Caribbean
The Caribbean is a crescent-shaped group of islands more than 2,000 miles long separating the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, to the west and south, from the Atlantic Ocean, to the east and north...
. They recorded
Sound recording and reproduction
Sound recording and reproduction is an electrical or mechanical inscription and re-creation of sound waves, such as spoken voice, singing, instrumental music, or sound effects. The two main classes of sound recording technology are analog recording and digital recording...
their first single "Come To America" in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
in 1976, and both it and its follow-up "Non Stop Dance" made the charts
Record chart
A record chart is a ranking of recorded music according to popularity during a given period of time. Examples of music charts are the Hit parade, Hot 100 or Top 40....
in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, where they toured successfully. The following year they released "Heaven", which was picked up by TK Records
TK Records
TK Records was an American record label started by record distributor, Henry Stone in Miami, Florida, one of several labels that he founded in the 1960s and 1970s...
in the U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
In 1978 they recorded "Cuba". The mix of disco beats, Latin percussion, soulful vocals and a catchy tune propelled the song
Song
In music, a song is a composition for voice or voices, performed by singing.A song may be accompanied by musical instruments, or it may be unaccompanied, as in the case of a cappella songs...
to #1 in several countries, and earned them four gold records
Music recording sales certification
Music recording sales certification is a system of certifying that a music recording has shipped or sold a certain number of copies, where the threshold quantity varies by type and by nation or territory .Almost all countries follow variations of the RIAA certification categories,...
worldwide. In the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
it made #41 on its initial release, and #12 when reissued in 1980. Like their other hits, it was written
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
and produced
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
by Daniel Vangarde
Daniel Vangarde
Daniel Vangarde, born Daniel Bangalter in 1947, is a French songwriter and producer. He is the father of music composer Thomas Bangalter of Daft Punk.-History:...
and the Belgian
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
producer Jean Kluger
Jean Kluger
Jean Kluger is a Belgian artist, producer, songwriter and musical composer.His career started in 1957, working for his father's company, World Music. He wrote widely for the French and German pop music markets, including songs for Dalida, Will Tura, Ringo and Petula Clark...
, who also recorded hits by Ottawan, Sheila B. Devotion and others. Vangarde (aka Daniel Bangalter) is the father of Thomas Bangalter
Thomas Bangalter
Thomas Bangalter is a French electronic musician best known as a member of the French house music duo Daft Punk. He has also recorded and released music as a member of the trio Stardust, the duo Together, and as a solo artist including compositions for the film Irréversible.Thomas Bangalter owns a...
of Daft Punk
Daft Punk
Daft Punk are an electronic music duo consisting of French musicians Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo and Thomas Bangalter . Daft Punk reached significant popularity in the late 1990s house movement in France and met with continued success in the years following, combining elements of house with synthpop...
.
The Gibson Brothers had three further big hits in 1979 and 1980, "Ooh! What A Life", "Que Sera Mi Vida" (which sold over 5 million copies worldwide), and "Mariana". They have continued to record and tour worldwide.
Singles
| Year | Single | U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... Chart Record chart A record chart is a ranking of recorded music according to popularity during a given period of time. Examples of music charts are the Hit parade, Hot 100 or Top 40.... |
UK Singles Chart UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | "Cuba" | 81 | 41 |
| "Ooh! What a Life" | - | 10 | |
| 1980 | "Que Sera Mi Vida" | - | 5 |
| "Cuba/Better Do It Salsa" | - | 12 | |
| "Mariana" | - | 11 | |
| 1983 | "My Heart's Beating Wild (Tic Tac Tic Tac)" | - | 56 |