Bee Gees Manager Robert Stigwood Passes Away At 81

Robert Stigwood, the manager behind the infamous trio Bee Gees and UK supergroup Cream has passed away at the age of 81. 

As TMZ reports, the cause of death of the Adelaide-born music executive is still unclear. 

In 1967 Stigwood launched the Robert Stigwood Organisation (RSO) which promoted a number of iconic names such as Mick Jagger and David Bowie, Eric Clapton and Bee Gees, among others.

In 1968, the company moved into theatre where RSO produced a number of famous musicals including Hair and Jesus Christ Superstar.

RSO's biggest successes however were in film with 1977 classics Saturday Night Fever and Grease the very next year.

Stigwood also produced the stage and film adaptation of Evita, with the latter winning an Academy Award in 1997 for Best Original Song and three Golden Globes including Best Motion Picture. 

The son of Bee Gees' Robin Gibb confirmed Stigwood's death in a Facebook post earlier today. 

"I would like to share the sad news with you all, that my godfather, and the longtime manager of my family, Robert Stigwood, has passed away," Spencer Gibb wrote. 

"I would like to thank Robert for his kindness to me over the years as well as his mentorship to my family. “Stiggy", you will be missed."

English composer Andrew Lloyd Webber, who worked closely with Stigwood on a number of stage productions tweeted, "Farewell beloved Robert, the great showman who taught me so much. With love, ALW."

Farewell beloved Robert, the great showman who taught me so much. With love, ALW.

— Andrew Lloyd Webber (@OfficialALW) January 4, 2016

Robert Stigwood with ALW & Hal Prince at @OfficialEvita's opening night at @AdelaideFesCentre in 1980. #TeamALW. pic.twitter.com/0rkaITdSMF

— Andrew Lloyd Webber (@OfficialALW) January 4, 2016