Howard Paul Donald, born on April 28, 1968, is a multifaceted English artist with a diverse range of talents. As a member of the renowned pop group Take That, he has been a driving force in the music industry for decades.
Donald's early life was marked by a passion for music, which was largely influenced by his brother Colin's extensive vinyl collection. He developed a keen interest in electronic acts such as Kraftwerk, John Foxx, Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD),and Gary Numan.
As a teenager, Donald discovered his love for dancing and became a regular on the burgeoning breakdancing circuit in the Greater Manchester area. It was during this time that he first met future bandmate Jason Orange.
Donald's big break came when he auditioned for Nigel Martin-Smith's new boy band project and was selected along with Gary Barlow, Jason Orange, Mark Owen, and Robbie Williams to form the iconic British boyband Take That.
Throughout his time with the group, Donald showcased his versatility as a performer, featuring less on lead vocals during the band's first era but singing lead on the hit single "Never Forget," which reached number one in the UK in 1995.
Following the band's initial split in 1996, Donald attempted a solo career, recording an unreleased single and returning to his roots as a DJ. He later confessed to struggling with instability and even contemplating suicide during this period.
In 2005, Take That reformed and embarked on a reunion tour, followed by the release of their Greatest Hits album, Never Forget: The Ultimate Collection. The tour was a massive success, and the band went on to release their first studio album since 1995, Beautiful World.
Donald's contributions to the album included lead vocals on two tracks, "Beautiful World" and "Mancunian Way," which is a tribute to the band's hometown of Manchester. He also sang lead on two tracks on the 2008 album The Circus and shared lead vocals with the rest of the band on the opening track.
On the 2010 album Progress, Donald sang lead vocals on the track "Affirmation" and played drums on several songs. He also mixed a B-side track for the second single "Kidz" called "Revenge of the Kidz."
In 2017, Donald sang lead vocals on the track "Every Revolution" on the album Wonderland.
In addition to his work with Take That, Donald has also ventured into other creative endeavors. In 2013, he became a judge on the German reality talent show Got to Dance, a position he held until 2014.
In 2021, Donald made a memorable appearance on The Masked Dancer, masked as Zip, and reached the final, ultimately finishing in third place.
