Ooh to, ooh to be, ooh to be a Bee Gee

Published on Saturday 21 February 2009 09:29

HE'S as well known for his unique musical talent as his brilliant white smile.

And now the highest bidder at an Edinburgh charity auction has the chance to be like Bee Gee legend Barry Gibb in almost every way.

The superstar has handed over one of his beloved acoustic guitars to be auctioned in aid of the Capital branch of orphans' charity Hope and Homes for Children.

But that's not all.

For whoever wins the signed guitar could also end up sporting a dazzling smile just like his, plus a recording session – the other items going under the hammer on the night include a 500 teeth whitening treatment and a stint in a recording studio.

Gibb agreed to hand over his Epiphone Hummingbird acoustic guitar along with a signed, personal letter confirming its authenticity, to charity campaigner and personal friend Sue Lindsay.

The pair have been friends for years after Gibb wed her close friend, Musselburgh-born former Miss Scotland, Linda Gray.

Sue, 61, of Glenavon House in Linlithgow, said: "I was telling them how I had recently visited orphanages in Romania with the Hope and Homes for Children charity. When I said I was organising a charity ball in Edinburgh, Barry said 'How would you like a signed guitar for your auction?'

"It was very generous, because the guitars he keeps now are the ones he really loves."

The Gibb brothers – Barry, Maurice and Robin – shot to fame in the 1960s with their instantly recognisable harmonies and soft rock songs dominated by Barry's falsetto vocals. They hit a global peak in the late '70s when they contributed to the soundtrack for Saturday Night Fever and there followed a string of number one hits. They have sold more than 220 million records worldwide.

A statement from the performer said: "I was very moved when I heard about the charity. I'm delighted to give Sue something of mine which, hopefully, can help give some support to these children."

A spokeswoman for auction company Bonhams said they would not be able to comment on how much the signed guitar might fetch, but added: "These kinds of sales are always very popular."

The Epiphone Hummingbird guitar is made of mahogany and solid spruce with a rosewood fretboard. A new one costs around 250, but Barry Gibb's signature and a letter of provenance would send that figure soaring.

Sue added: "To have Barry's guitar among the lots is fantastic. The fact that he's even going to write a personal letter to whoever wins it is wonderful."

The auction will be the highlight of a glittering ball at the Balmoral Hotel on March 14 to raise money for Hope and Homes for Children.

Tickets for the ball, priced 80 each, are available from [e-mail] or by phoning 01596-848 115.