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Robbie Williams live at the Roundhouse, London — CC BY 2.0

Robbie Williams

Singer and Entertainer

Robert Peter Williams was born on 13 February 1974 in Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire - but his family's roots trace directly back over the border to North Wales, around Flint and Bala in Flintshire. His grandfather was a fluent Welsh speaker who moved to Stoke-on-Trent for work, carrying the family's Welsh identity with him into England, and it is a connection Robbie has spoken about with evident pride over the years.

He rose to fame as the youngest member of Take That, one of the biggest British boy bands of the early 1990s, before a dramatic and turbulent departure in 1995 led to one of the most successful solo careers in British pop history. Albums including Life Thru a Lens, I've Been Expecting You and Sing When You're Winning produced a run of enormous hits - Angels, Let Me Entertain You, Millennium, Feel and Rock DJ among them - and made him one of the best-selling British solo artists of all time, with record-breaking stadium tours across Europe.

Beyond music, Williams briefly rejoined Take That for a reunion tour and album in the 2010s, has explored swing and Christmas standards with Swings Both Ways and The Christmas Present, and remains one of Britain's most consistently popular live performers - carrying a North Wales bloodline with him onto some of the biggest stages in the world.

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One of Britain's biggest-selling solo artists and former Take That star, whose family roots trace back to Flint and Bala in North Wales

Williams joined Take That as its youngest member in 1990, helping drive the group to five UK number one singles before a much-publicised split from the band in 1995 amid personal struggles that were widely reported at the time. His solo comeback, powered by the 1997 hit Angels, became one of the great second acts in British pop, and he went on to sell more than 75 million records worldwide.

His stadium tours have repeatedly set attendance records in the UK and Europe, and he has picked up a record number of BRIT Awards for a solo artist. He briefly reunited with Take That for the Progress album and tour in 2010, and has continued to experiment across genres, from the big-band swing of Swings Both Ways (2013) to the festive covers and originals of The Christmas Present (2019).

Career Highlights

  • Youngest member of Take That from 1990, five UK number one singles
  • Solo breakthrough with Angels (1997), one of the most-played songs in UK radio history
  • Record number of BRIT Awards won by a solo artist
  • Multiple record-breaking stadium tours across the UK and Europe
  • Brief Take That reunion for the Progress album and tour (2010-2011)
  • Sold more than 75 million records worldwide across his career
ℹ️ Born Robert Peter Williams, 13 February 1974, Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, England

His grandfather was a fluent Welsh speaker from the Flint and Bala area of North Wales who moved to Stoke-on-Trent for work

Robbie Williams - Greatest Hits [CD]
19 massive hits including Angels, Millennium, Feel and Rock DJ - the definitive Robbie Williams collection.
Available at Amazon
Swings Both Ways [CD+DVD]
A UK number one big-band swing album featuring duets with Michael Bublé, Kelly Clarkson and Lily Allen.
Available at Amazon
The Christmas Present [CD]
A double album of festive originals and covers, with guest appearances from Rod Stewart and Bryan Adams.
Available at Amazon
Swing When You're Winning [CD]
His first swing album, featuring the smash duet with Nicole Kidman, Somethin' Stupid.
Available at Amazon
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