Gary Barlow
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Gary was born in Frodsham, Cheshire on 20th January 1971. He has an older brother named Ian and his parents, Marge and Colin.
Gary credits his parents for getting him involved in the music business when, at 11 years old, they gave him a choice of either a BMX bike or a keyboard for Christmas. Gary chose the keyboard and set his Dad out of pocket £600!The keyboard was so large that it filled his entire bedroom, but Gary soon exhausted its limitations. He taught himself to play and it wasn't long before he was penning the tunes that would one day make him famous.
The first school he attended was Weaver Vale in Frodsham, where he played Joseph in Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat in his last year. From there he attented Frodsham High School, where his mother worked. Gary finished school by gaining 6 O levels. The only thing that was on Gary's mind at the time was music, not exam results.
Gary began working as a musician very young in life, from the age of 11 he was employed by the Connah's Quay Labour Club, North Wales, being paid £18 for each Saturday night gig. He carried on doing this for a couple years until he met up with a girl called Heather. They began singing and performing together and carried on for two years around the club circuit.
But, Gary was searching for greater things and landed a job at the Halton British Legion, near Runcorn - playing four gigs over each weekend finishing at 2am every night. At the age of 14, his mum still wasn't sure about Gary's new career, but he was earning £140 a night and supporting people such as Ken Dodd, so she let him carry on.
At 15 Gary Changed His Life
At the age of 15, Gary entered a BBC Pebble Mill competition called 'A Song For Christmas'. He wrote a ballad named Let's Pray For Christmas and let his music teacher and his mum have the first listen. His mum thought it was too slow and dull, but the music teacher loved it and entered it for the competition. Weeks went passed and Gary heard nothing. One day he was in the gym at school when Mrs Nelson, the music teacher. walked in. He knew instantly why she had come to see him.
Pebble Mill had invited Gary down to London's West Heath Studios to record his song. He had never ever been in a recording studio before and Gary was in awe, he was frightened to death. He recorded the song with an orchestra and backing singers. It was then recorded by a film crew for the competition.
Despite only reaching the semi-finals, Gary got friendly with a man called Bob Howes, who kept in touch with him and introduced Gary to a man named Rod Argent. During the next two years, Gary was to send him songs for advice.
As part of the prize for getting to the semi-finals, Gary won recording time at Strawberry Studios in Manchester and met up with a tea-boy called Mark Owen. Together they formed a band called the Cutest Rush, singing cover versions and Gary's own songs. It wasn't long before they went to seek management from Nigel Martin-Smith. So the roller coaster ride of fame begins. Take That were finally formed.
During his career with Take That, Gary gained public and music business respect for his song writing, being awarded no less than four Ivor Novello Awards, which included the Songwriter of The Year Award in 1993.
The Solo Career
The future for Gary looked very bright indeed. His first two solo singles both leapt to the number one spot in his home country. His debut LP Open Road followed the same route. Gary's first ever single to be released in the States as a solo artist was So Help Me Girl which reached No 44 on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart and an amazing No 1 on both the Billboard Adult Contemporary and Radio & Record Play (R&R) Charts! His early success in the US surely paved the way for an even more successful future.
However, it was not to be. Bad British Press, who seemed to wage a vendetta against Gary, resulted in lack of airplay for his singles "Stronger" and "For All That You Want". Despite this, "Stronger" reached 16 in the charts and "For All That You Want" 24. Gary's second album, "12 Months 11 Days" reached the Top 40, coming ending up at 34 - this despite lack of promotion or airpay. Sadly, Gary's greatest song "Lie to Me", which was due for release 6 December 1999 was never released. Most fans feel this is the greatest song Gary has ever written and sadly it will not be heard by the vast majority of people as a single.
On 12 January 2000 Gary married his long-time girlfriend, Dawn Andrews, and on 16th August 2000, Dawn presented Gary with their first child - a son - who they named Daniel. With the closing of his contract with BMG, Gary returned to his studios, where he has worked on new songs - both for himself and for other artists (such as STEPS and HUMAN NATURE).
In November 2000 Gary announced that he was giving up his career as a solo artist, to concentrate on his first love - writing songs. Gary then signed a publishing deal with Sony, and in February 2001 Gary went to the USA on a 6 month songwriting project for Sony, taking in Nashville, LA and New York. Dawn and baby Daniel went with him. Upon his return he set up True North Productions with Elliot Kennedy and Tim Woodcock.
Gary became a father for the second time, when Dawn gave birth to their daughter, Emily on 31st May 2002 and he seemed to be very settled in his new career as a very successful song-writer, working with artists such as Donny Osmond, Delta Goodrum, Blue, Christina Aguilara and Mark Owen. At long last, getting the rightful respect and recognition that has been due for a long time!
Then he got the call that was once again going to bring him back to us all . . . He took part in the documentary Take That for the Record, which brought Take That back together to record their story. From this came the wonderful news that, at long last, Take That were getting back together for a THE REUNION Tour! Take That announced that they were going on Tour in Spring 2006. The Tour was a sell out within half an hour and more dates added, which sold out in 15 minutes.
Gary then began writing his autobiography "My Take", released by Bloomsbury Books in October 2006 and embarked on a UK Book Signing Tour in October 2006 to promote the book. Thousands of fans turned out at Waterstones and WH Smiths over the two weeks' of siginings. Gary was very patient and posed for pictures with every single person that had come for a book to be signed.
Gary continues to work on independent projects too and in October 2007 his official website was relaunched www.garybarlow.com. The rest, is still to be written . . . .
But, Gary was searching for greater things and landed a job at the Halton British Legion, near Runcorn - playing four gigs over each weekend finishing at 2am every night. At the age of 14, his mum still wasn't sure about Gary's new career, but he was earning £140 a night and supporting people such as Ken Dodd, so she let him carry on.At 15 Gary Changed His Life
At the age of 15, Gary entered a BBC Pebble Mill competition called 'A Song For Christmas'. He wrote a ballad named Let's Pray For Christmas and let his music teacher and his mum have the first listen. His mum thought it was too slow and dull, but the music teacher loved it and entered it for the competition. Weeks went passed and Gary heard nothing. One day he was in the gym at school when Mrs Nelson, the music teacher. walked in. He knew instantly why she had come to see him.
Pebble Mill had invited Gary down to London's West Heath Studios to record his song. He had never ever been in a recording studio before and Gary was in awe, he was frightened to death. He recorded the song with an orchestra and backing singers. It was then recorded by a film crew for the competition.
Despite only reaching the semi-finals, Gary got friendly with a man called Bob Howes, who kept in touch with him and introduced Gary to a man named Rod Argent. During the next two years, Gary was to send him songs for advice.As part of the prize for getting to the semi-finals, Gary won recording time at Strawberry Studios in Manchester and met up with a tea-boy called Mark Owen. Together they formed a band called the Cutest Rush, singing cover versions and Gary's own songs. It wasn't long before they went to seek management from Nigel Martin-Smith. So the roller coaster ride of fame begins. Take That were finally formed.During his career with Take That, Gary gained public and music business respect for his song writing, being awarded no less than four Ivor Novello Awards, which included the Songwriter of The Year Award in 1993.
The Solo Career
The future for Gary looked very bright indeed. His first two solo singles both leapt to the number one spot in his home country. His debut LP Open Road followed the same route. Gary's first ever single to be released in the States as a solo artist was So Help Me Girl which reached No 44 on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart and an amazing No 1 on both the Billboard Adult Contemporary and Radio & Record Play (R&R) Charts! His early success in the US surely paved the way for an even more successful future.However, it was not to be. Bad British Press, who seemed to wage a vendetta against Gary, resulted in lack of airplay for his singles "Stronger" and "For All That You Want". Despite this, "Stronger" reached 16 in the charts and "For All That You Want" 24. Gary's second album, "12 Months 11 Days" reached the Top 40, coming ending up at 34 - this despite lack of promotion or airpay. Sadly, Gary's greatest song "Lie to Me", which was due for release 6 December 1999 was never released. Most fans feel this is the greatest song Gary has ever written and sadly it will not be heard by the vast majority of people as a single.
On 12 January 2000 Gary married his long-time girlfriend, Dawn Andrews, and on 16th August 2000, Dawn presented Gary with their first child - a son - who they named Daniel. With the closing of his contract with BMG, Gary returned to his studios, where he has worked on new songs - both for himself and for other artists (such as STEPS and HUMAN NATURE).In November 2000 Gary announced that he was giving up his career as a solo artist, to concentrate on his first love - writing songs. Gary then signed a publishing deal with Sony, and in February 2001 Gary went to the USA on a 6 month songwriting project for Sony, taking in Nashville, LA and New York. Dawn and baby Daniel went with him. Upon his return he set up True North Productions with Elliot Kennedy and Tim Woodcock.
Gary became a father for the second time, when Dawn gave birth to their daughter, Emily on 31st May 2002 and he seemed to be very settled in his new career as a very successful song-writer, working with artists such as Donny Osmond, Delta Goodrum, Blue, Christina Aguilara and Mark Owen. At long last, getting the rightful respect and recognition that has been due for a long time!
Then he got the call that was once again going to bring him back to us all . . . He took part in the documentary Take That for the Record, which brought Take That back together to record their story. From this came the wonderful news that, at long last, Take That were getting back together for a THE REUNION Tour! Take That announced that they were going on Tour in Spring 2006. The Tour was a sell out within half an hour and more dates added, which sold out in 15 minutes.
Gary then began writing his autobiography "My Take", released by Bloomsbury Books in October 2006 and embarked on a UK Book Signing Tour in October 2006 to promote the book. Thousands of fans turned out at Waterstones and WH Smiths over the two weeks' of siginings. Gary was very patient and posed for pictures with every single person that had come for a book to be signed. Gary continues to work on independent projects too and in October 2007 his official website was relaunched www.garybarlow.com. The rest, is still to be written . . . .