The passing of Robin Gibb on May 20, following the death of his twin brother Maurice, tugs at the memory and heartstrings of those of us who recall the era when the brothers became absolute Pop Music Gods. 

Whether or not you were a fan of the Brothers Gibb, their music is part of the fabric of the beloved timeframe of my youth. Theirs remains a long and meaningful journey of family, struggles, persistence and, of course, the diverse music that has bound them to each other - and to us - for nearly five decades.

Perhaps best known as the unintentional kings of disco due to their epic Saturday Night Fever soundtrack, their story actually begins much earlier, as the brothers began harmonizing together in the late 1950s. Their singing style was thoughtful and often vulnerable. As with any band of legend, their repertoire occasionally included a mystifying song, a 'what does that mean?' lyric, right alongside the Beatles, Don McLean, and other poetic wizards of the 60s and 70s.

One especially haunting example was "I Started a Joke," inspired by Robin:

Still it was Robin who, in 1971, made the first call to Barry to reunite with his brothers. A few years later they would rise to the kind of worldwide megastardom that is rare to acquire and even harder to sustain -- the gargantuan success of Saturday Night Fever.

Once the disco era passed, however, the Bee Gees were destined to fade somewhat along with it -- many say unjustly, as in 'guilt by association.'  The disco 'typecasting' that had made them so successful was a double-edged sword that left them with a dance-music reputation, and they struggled to regain mainstream popularity thereafter.

Still waters run deep, the saying goes. And in 1997 the Bee Gees returned with a new release, their album "Still Waters." 

Perhaps this is why the Bee Gees have touched my heart and that of so many others over the years: their unabashed ability to explore the loneliness of everyman -- regardless of the company of brothers, fans, worshippers, family, professionals, and anyone else in the arena -- and to do so through the enduring gift of music.

To Barry, who works hard at Stayin' Alive, my heart goes out;  oddly, I too know how it feels to lose two brothers, twins, within a few years of each other. I saw their struggles with addiction and the effects it had on their health down the road... I could see the invisible string that connected them, even as one left this world.  Whether it was my nature, or some unspoken message I somehow absorbed along the way, I too became the strong one. How Deep is Your Love?  Very deep. Of that I am certain.

So Barry: be tender with your love - you know how easy it is to break it.

And to the other Gibb brothers - Farewell, thank you for your song, and rest in peace.

I can see a new tomorrow
Ev'rything we are will never die
Loving's such a beautiful thing

--Too Much Heaven, Bee Gees