Gary Barlow was born on January 20, 1971 in Frodsham, Cheshire, England) is an English singer, pianist, songwriter, bandleader and producer.

He is a member of the boy band Take That, and was one of the most successful songwriters of the 1990s, penning no fewer than 16 hit singles during the decade. Gary had 2 #1's and 5 Top 40 UK Singles. Aged 15, Gary entered a BBC Pebble Mill at One competition called "A Song For Christmas" with a song called "Let's Pray For Christmas".

After getting through to the semifinals he was invited to London's West Heath Studios to record his song. This inspired Barlow to perform on the northern club circuit, singing cover versions and his own songs.

Aged 18 in 1990, he appointed Wigan show business agent Barry Woolley to be his manager and, after a change of stage name to Gary Barlow, recorded a single ("Love Is in the Air") under the stage name Kurtis Rush.

After the single's commercial failure, Gary came under the influence of pop manager Nigel Martin-Smith and formed Take That, becoming the lead singer.

Woolley then sued Gary shortly after, and the case was settled days before it was due to enter high courts in 1995. More than 5 years later, the teen pop idol handed over an estimated half a million pounds (£500,000) to Mr Woolley, to prevent the case going to court.