Gary Barlow Age, Height, Wife & Biography

Gary Barlow is an English singer, songwriter and musician best known as the lead singer and principal songwriter of Take That, one of Britain’s most successful pop groups. Across more than three decades he has written chart-topping songs for the band and for other artists, enjoyed a solo career, and become a familiar television judge and theatre composer.

Quick Facts

Full Name	Gary Barlow
Born	January 20, 1971
Age	55 years old
Birthplace	Frodsham, Cheshire, England
Nationality	English
Height	5 feet 9 inches (1.75 m)
Occupation	Singer, songwriter, musician
Years Active	1986 – present
Spouse	Dawn Andrews (married 2000)
Children	Daniel, Emily, Daisy
Known For	Take That, Back for Good, Pray, The X Factor

Who Is Gary Barlow?

Gary Barlow is the creative driving force behind Take That. As the group’s main songwriter, he wrote many of its biggest hits, including Pray, Back for Good and Never Forget, and his melodic, piano-led style helped define British pop in the 1990s. When the group split in 1996 he launched a solo career, and when Take That reunited in 2005 he returned as its frontman for a second run of number-one albums and sold-out stadium tours.

Beyond the band, Barlow has worked as a songwriter and producer for other singers, served as a judge on The X Factor, written music for the stage, and been honoured with an OBE for services to music and charity. He remains one of the most durable figures in British pop, moving between performing, writing and television work.

Early Life & Background

Gary Barlow was born on January 20, 1971, in Frodsham, Cheshire, England, to Colin and Marjorie Barlow. He grew up in the town and showed musical talent early, learning the piano and performing in local clubs and working men’s clubs as a teenager. By his mid-teens he was playing keyboards and singing in pubs around the north west of England, gaining experience that would shape his later career.

In 1990, at the age of 19, Barlow auditioned for a new boy band being put together by manager Nigel Martin-Smith. He was chosen alongside Robbie Williams, Mark Owen, Howard Donald and Jason Orange to form Take That. Barlow quickly became the group’s musical leader, writing and arranging much of its early material and singing lead on many of its first hits.

Career

Take That’s first album, Take That and Party, was released in 1992, and the group soon became one of the biggest pop acts in Britain. Their second album, Everything Changes, produced a run of hit singles, and Nobody Else in 1995 included Back for Good, written by Barlow, which became one of the best-selling singles of the decade. The group won BRIT Awards and sold out arenas before splitting in 1996, after Robbie Williams had left the year before.

Barlow’s solo debut album, Open Road, reached number one in the UK in 1997, and its lead single Forever Love also topped the singles chart. His second solo album, Twelve Months, Eleven Days, followed in 1999 and was less successful. He then spent several years writing and producing for other artists, including work in the United States, before Take That’s reunion was announced in 2005.

The reunited Take That, initially as a four-piece, released Beautiful World in 2006, featuring the comeback single Patience, and The Circus in 2008, featuring Greatest Day. Both albums topped the UK chart and the band returned to stadiums. In 2010 Robbie Williams rejoined for Progress, which included The Flood, and in 2014, after Williams and Jason Orange had departed again, Barlow, Mark Owen and Howard Donald released III, followed by Wonderland in 2017 and This Life in 2023.

Alongside Take That, Barlow was a judge on The X Factor from 2011 to 2013, mentoring the winning act James Arthur in 2012. He organised the Diamond Jubilee concert for Queen Elizabeth II in 2012 and was appointed OBE in the Birthday Honours that year. He has also written for musical theatre, including the music for The Girls and for the stage production The Band, and released solo albums including Music Played by Humans in 2020 and the festive record The Dream of Christmas in 2021.

Facts About Gary Barlow

• Gary Barlow wrote the Take That hits Back for Good, Pray and Never Forget.
• His solo single Forever Love reached number one in the UK in 1996.
• He was a judge on The X Factor in the UK from 2011 to 2013.
• He organised the Diamond Jubilee concert in London in 2012 and was appointed OBE that year.
• He has written music for the stage, including The Girls and The Band.

Frequently Asked Questions