Howard Donald Age, Height, Wife & Biography

Howard Donald is an English singer, songwriter and DJ best known as a member of Take That, one of Britain’s most successful pop groups. He joined the band at its formation, sang lead on some of its biggest songs, and has remained a member through its reunion and later years.

Quick Facts

Full Name	Howard Paul Donald
Born	April 28, 1968
Age	58 years old
Birthplace	Droylsden, Lancashire, England
Nationality	English
Height	6 feet 0 inches (1.83 m)
Occupation	Singer, songwriter, DJ
Years Active	1990 – present
Spouse	Katie Halil (married 2015)
Children	Grace, Lola, Dougie
Known For	Take That, Never Forget, Patience

Who Is Howard Donald?

Howard Donald is a singer and DJ from Droylsden, England, who found fame in Take That. He was one of the group’s five original members and, as the oldest member, brought dance and performance experience to the band. He sang lead vocal on Never Forget, one of Take That’s best-known songs, and has been a steady presence in the group for more than three decades.

Outside Take That, Donald has worked as a DJ, playing club sets in the UK and abroad. He also writes songs and has taken part in television programmes. After the band’s reunion in 2005 he returned to stadiums and number-one albums with Gary Barlow and Mark Owen.

Early Life & Background

Howard Paul Donald was born on April 28, 1968, in Droylsden, Lancashire, England. He grew up in the area and left school to work as a car mechanic, while also training as a dancer. Before Take That he worked in vehicle painting and performed in dance groups, and he had a keen interest in music and club culture.

In 1990, at the age of 22, Donald auditioned for a new pop group being assembled by manager Nigel Martin-Smith. He was selected alongside Gary Barlow, Robbie Williams, Mark Owen and Jason Orange to form Take That. His dance skills helped shape the group’s early stage routines, and he soon became an established member of the band.

Career

Take That released their debut album, Take That and Party, in 1992 and became one of Britain’s biggest pop acts. Donald sang lead on Never Forget, the closing song on the album Nobody Else, released in 1995. The group enjoyed a string of number-one singles and albums, including Everything Changes in 1993, before splitting in 1996, a year after Robbie Williams had left.

During the years after the split, Donald worked as a DJ and recorded solo material that was not released. He returned to the public eye when Take That reunited in 2005 as a four-piece. The comeback album Beautiful World, released in 2006, included the single Patience, and The Circus followed in 2008, returning the band to large arenas and stadiums.

Robbie Williams rejoined Take That for Progress in 2010, and after Williams and Jason Orange left again, Donald, Gary Barlow and Mark Owen released III in 2014, Wonderland in 2017 and This Life in 2023, all reaching number one in the UK. Donald has continued to DJ between Take That tours and has appeared on television, including in the BBC programme The Underdog in 2007.

Facts About Howard Donald

• Howard Donald was born in Droylsden, Lancashire, on April 28, 1968.
• He sang lead vocal on the Take That song Never Forget.
• Before Take That he worked as a car mechanic and trained as a dancer.
• He returned to Take That for the group’s 2005 reunion.
• He works as a DJ alongside his work with Take That.

Frequently Asked Questions