Howard Donald

Howard Paul Donald, born on April 28, 1968, is a multi-talented English artist known for his roles as a singer, songwriter, drummer, pianist, dancer, DJ, and record producer. He gained fame as a key member of the iconic pop band Take That. During a hiatus from the group, he served as a judge on the German reality show Got to Dance from 2013 to 2014.

His early education took place at Littlemoss High School in Droylsden, where he did not achieve any GCSE qualifications. He later trained for three years as a vehicle painter through the Youth Training Scheme. Donald’s passion for music began in his youth, influenced by his brother Colin's extensive vinyl collection, which included electronic bands like Kraftwerk and Gary Numan. As a teenager, he immersed himself in the breakdancing scene in Greater Manchester, where he met future bandmate Jason Orange.

In 1990, Donald was recruited, along with Gary Barlow, Jason Orange, Mark Owen, and Robbie Williams, to form Take That. The group enjoyed remarkable success throughout the early 1990s, with Donald taking the lead on the hit single "Never Forget," which topped the UK charts in 1995. After the band disbanded in 1996, he briefly pursued a solo career and returned to DJing.

Take That reunited in 2005, leading to the release of their Greatest Hits album and subsequent studio albums, including Beautiful World and The Circus, where Donald contributed lead vocals to several tracks. He continued to evolve his artistry with the 2010 album Progress and the 2017 release Wonderland, showcasing his vocal talents. In 2021, he participated in The Masked Dancer, finishing in third place.