Gary Barlow is an English singer-songwriter and musician best known as the lead singer of the boy band Take That. He is also an accomplished pianist, composer and record producer. Barlow reached international success in the 1990s as a member of Take That, one of the UK's best-selling boy bands. After Take That split in 1996, Barlow launched his solo career, which has seen him produce several albums and achieve several successful chart-topping singles, as well as writing and producing songs for other artists. Barlow was recognised by the music industry in 2004 with an Ivor Novello Award for Outstanding Contribution to British Music. In 2011, he was made an OBE for his services to the music industry. He has also been recognised by the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors, and received an honorary doctorate from University of Bolton.