Maurice Gibb, who suffered a heart attack shortly before undergoing surgery for a blocked intestine last week, died early Sunday (1/12) at a Miami hospital.

"It is with great sadness and sorrow that we regretfully announce the passing of Maurice Gibb," his family said in a statement. "His love, enthusiasm and energy for life remain an inspiration to all of us. We will all deeply miss him."

Gibb, a Miami-area resident, was admitted to that city's Mount Sinai Medical Center on Wednesday (1/8) after he collapsed in his home.

The Bee Gees [ tickets ]--twin brothers Maurice (pronounced "Morris") and Robin, and elder brother Barry--formed in the late 1950s. Maurice's brothers and other family members reportedly were among those present at his bedside when he died.

The trio, known for its tight, high-pitched harmonies, had its first string of hits in the late 1960s. Among the best known were "To Love Somebody," "Massachusetts," "Words," "I've Got to Get a Message to You" and "I Started a Joke."

In the mid-70s, the group was at the forefront of the disco-music craze. The "Saturday Night Live" soundtrack became one of the top-selling albums in history, led by the Bee Gees singles "Stayin' Alive," "Night Fever" and "How Deep Is Your Love."

Though the group's popularity declined with disco's downfall, the Bee Gees continued to actively record and tour. The band's last studio album was 2001's "This Is Where I Came In."

Barry Gibb told the BBC that he and Robin would continue the Bee Gees as a duo.

"Maurice will be a void, always in our lives and he will always be featured as the third member of the Bee Gees, no matter what we do," he said. "But one thing I will tell you is that the Bee Gees will go on. The Bee Gees will not stop here. The Bee Gees will not disintegrate because we've lost Mo."

Andy Gibb, the youngest of the Gibb brothers, died of a heart ailment in 1988. He was 30 years old.