Robbie Williams

Biography

Robert Peter Williams (born 13 February 1974) is an English singer and songwriter who first found fame as a member of the pop group Take That from 1990 to 1995. At the age of 16, he was the youngest member to join the group. Williams left Take That in July 1995 to embark on a solo career.

Solo Career

Williams launched his solo career in 1996 with a cover of George Michael's "Freedom," which reached number two on the UK Singles Chart. His debut album, "Life thru a Lens," was released in September 1997. The album's single, "Angels," became his best-selling single and propelled the album to number one in the UK. His second album, "I've Been Expecting You" (1998), featured the number-one singles "Millennium" and "She's the One". Williams achieved significant international success with his 2000 album "Sing When You're Winning," which included the hit "Rock DJ". The following year, he released "Swing When You're Winning," an album of swing standards that featured a posthumous duet with Frank Sinatra.

Throughout his solo career, Williams has released numerous successful albums, including "Escapology" (2002), "Intensive Care" (2005), and "Rudebox" (2006). He holds the record for the most BRIT Awards won by any artist and is one of the best-selling music artists of all time, with sales of over 75 million records worldwide. In 2006, he earned a Guinness World Record for selling 1.6 million concert tickets in a single day.

Take That Reunion

In 2010, Williams rejoined Take That for the album "Progress" and its accompanying tour. The album became the fastest-selling album of the century at the time. Although he left the band again in 2011 to focus on his solo work, the departure was amicable.

Personal Life

In August 2010, Robbie Williams married American actress Ayda Field. They have four children together: daughters Theodora and Colette, and sons Charlton and Beau. Williams has been open about his struggles with substance abuse and mental health, having entered rehab in 2007.

Achievements

Williams has received a record 18 BRIT Awards, including the Outstanding Contribution to Music award and the Icon Award. He has also won numerous other awards, including multiple MTV European Music Awards and German ECHO Awards. Six of his albums are among the top 100 biggest-selling albums in the UK. In 2022, he became the solo artist with the most UK Number 1 albums.