Gary Barlow (born January 20, 1971) is a British singer and songwriter, best known as the ex-leader of the successful boy band, Take That.

He was born in Frodsham, Cheshire, and Barlow was generally recognised as the musical talent behind Take That, though he became insecure when other band members were given a "turn" at the lead vocals on successive hits. However, he remained the songwriter, and hit songs produced by him included "Back for Good", "Pray", and "Sure".

In 1996, after Take That split up, Barlow went solo, and his first release, "Forever Love", was an immediate number one hit in the UK. His next album, Open Road, went to the top of the chart thanks to the 1997 number one UK single "Love Won't Wait" written by Madonna and Shep Pettibone. The remix was produced by Junior Vasquez. The original demo remains one of many unreleased Madonna songs.

When the singing career of his former band colleague and old rival, Robbie Williams, began to eclipse his own, Barlow returned to songwriting and producing. His most notable success was Will Young's number one hit, "Leave Right Now", and he also wrote "Lost Without You" by Delta Goodrem. Robbie Williams made fun of the missing success of the allegedly more talented Barlow in a hidden track at the end of his record Escapology, singing "Where has Gary Barlow gone?".

Barlow is married to Dawn Andrews, the couple has a son (Daniel, born 2000) and a daughter (Emily, born 2002).

Discography

• Open Road — (1997) Charts: #1

1. "Love Won't Wait" (4:17) (Madonna/S. Pettibone)
2. "So Help Me Girl" (4:29) (H. Perdew/A. Spooner)
3. "My Commitment" (4:48) (G. Barlow/D. Warren)
4. "Hang On In There Baby" (3:39) (J. W. Bristol)
5. "Are You Ready Now" (4:19) (G. Barlow)
6. "Everything I Ever Wanted" (3:32) (G. Barlow)
7. "I Fall So Deep" (4:02) (L. Loftin/M. Gustafsson/A. Powers)
8. "Lay Down For Love" (5:33) (G. Barlow/R. Stannard/M. Rowbottom)
9. "Forever Love" (4:50) (G. Barlow)
10. "Never Knew" (3:50) (G. Barlow)
11. "Open Road" (4:23) (G. Barlow)
12. "Always" (3:32) (G. Barlow)

• Twelve Months, Eleven Days — (1999) Charts: #35

1. "Stronger" (3:40) (G. Barlow/G. Gouldman)
2. "Arms (3:50) (G. Barlow/P. Vettese)
3. "Lie To Me" (5:30) (G. Barlow)
4. "Fast Car" (4:45) (G. Barlow)
5. "For All That You Want" (3:36) (G. Barlow/M. Martin/K. Lundin)
6. "All That I've Given Away" (4:30) (G. Barlow)
7. "Wondering" (3:43) (G. Barlow)
8. "Don't Need A Reason" (4:35) (G. Barlow)
9. "Before You Turn Away" (4:35) (G. Barlow)
10. "Walk" (5:20) (G. Barlow)
11. "Nothings Feel The Same" (4:05) (G. Barlow)
12. "Yesterday's Girl" (6:54) (G. Barlow)
13. "Lie To Me" (edit from dat) (4:04) (G. Barlow)

Chart positions are for the UK.

UK hit singles

• 1996 "Forever Love" #1
• 1997 "Love Won't Wait" #1
• 1997 "So Help Me Girl" #11
• 1997 "Open Road" #7
• 1999 "Stronger" #16
• 1999 "For All That You Want" #24

Did not have a US Top 40 single.

Links

• Gary Barlow News International
• Gary Barlow World
• Gary Barlow Page At Arista Records