Bee Gees star Robin Gibb has woken from a coma after more than a week and begun to show signs of recovery.

Spokesman Doug Wright said Robin Gibb, 62, was able to nod and communicate with his family who has held a constant vigil at his beside in a central London hospital.

Robin Gibb fell into a coma after contracting pneumonia in his battle against colon and liver cancer.

His wife, Dwina Gibb, has revealed he cried when she played him Roy Orbison’s 1962 song Crying.

His brother and fellow Bee Gees star, Barry Gibb, had also been singing to his brother to try to rouse him.

Robin Gibb has woken from a coma after more than a week and begun to show signs of recovery

Dwina Gibb told her local paper The Impartial Reporter, based in Enniskillen, Northern Ireland their children Robin John, Spencer and Melissa have been playing him music to “try and bring him back to us”.

She said thousands of people have been saying prayers for him every day, and thanked his fans for their support.

In February, Robin Gibb said he had made a “spectacular” recovery from cancer but was later back in hospital for surgery.

Robin Gibb was too ill to attend last week’s premiere of his latest work The Titanic Requiem, a classical piece composed with his son to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the ship’s sinking.

He was due to sing Don’t Cry Alone in person at Central Hall Westminster in London.

Robin Gibb’s website is down because of traffic volumes, with fans directed to his Facebook page, where messages of support can be left.

The British-born singer had surgery on his bowel 18 months ago for an unrelated condition, but a tumor was discovered and he was diagnosed with cancer of the colon and later of the liver.

It had been thought his cancer was in remission as early as last month.

Robin Gibb’s musical career began when he formed the Bee Gees with his brothers Barry and Maurice in 1958.

Bee Gees is among the biggest-selling groups of all time with hits spanning six decades including Stayin’ Alive, How Deep Is Your Love, Massachusetts and Words.

Their soundtrack to the film Saturday Night Fever was one of the best-selling albums of the 1970s and the band have won seven Grammy Awards.

Robin Gibb’s twin brother Maurice died in 2003 aged 53 due to complications from a twisted intestine.

His younger brother Andy Gibb, who had a successful solo career, died of a heart ailment in 1988, aged 30.

Robin Gibb last performed on stage at the London Palladium in February, supporting injured servicemen and women in a charity concert.