Mark Anthony Patrick Owen (born 27 January 1972 in Oldham, Lancashire, England) is an English singer/songwriter, but he may be best known for being one fifth of the hugely successful pop group Take That during the early 1990s and again in the mid 2000s. At a young age, he dreamt of becoming a professional football player, and had trials for Manchester United, Huddersfield Town and Rochdale football clubs, but due to serious injury, he had no choice but to give up his dreams. Mark's family lived in a small council house and looked like it was out of the cobbled streets of Coronation Street. He lived with his mum (Mary), his dad (Keith), his brother (Daniel) and his sister (Tracy). His dad was a decorator and then got a job in a police station. His mum was a supervisor in a bakery in Oldham. Mark was educated at the "Holy Rosary Primary" and "St Augustine's Catholic School" in Oldham and he starred in a lot of school plays. According to Mark's teachers, he showed no interest in music at school, he was too busy running around the football pitch. His first job was in Zuttis, a clothes boutique in Oldham. From there he went on to work at the local Barclays Bank, which is where he was working when he auditioned to eventually become the most popular member of Take That. After Take That split, Mark became the first of the band's ex-members to release a solo record. He reached #3 in the UK charts with his debut single, "Child". His second single, "Clementine", also went to #3. In 1997 his album Green Man was released, charting at a disappointing #33. After another single, "I Am What I Am", charted at #29 Mark was dropped by BMG Records in late 1997. One time managed by pop impressario Tim Byrne. After six years away Mark won the second series of Celebrity Big Brother in 2002. He got a phone call from Robbie Williams who invited him to perform with him on stage live at Knebworth. This returned him to the spotlight and he signed a deal with Island/Universal Records. In August 2003, Mark returned to the charts with the Top 5 hit, “Four Minute Warning”, which remained in the Top 40 for 8 weeks. His second album, In Your Own Time, was released in November 2003, entering the charts at #39. After a second single, “Alone Without You”, charted at #26, Mark was dropped by Island/Universal Records. In April 2004 he established his own record company, Sedna Records. He was now due to write material for his next album. He then released his third solo album, How the Mighty Fall,recorded at sunset studios LA in 2004, and released in 2005. In February 2006 he released the single "Hail Mary". Mark completed a critically acclaimed sell-out tour with the re-formed Take That last year. The band released a brand new studio album entitled Beautiful World in November 2006. Off the album the band released two singles; “Patience”(in 2006) and “Shine” (in 2007), which both reached #1 in the charts. The band just released their third single I'd Wait for Life on 18 June 2007. Mark is now rumoured to be working on his 4th solo album starting during Summer 2007. Mark dated art student Joanna Kelly after leaving Take That. He then dated and lived with actress Chloe Bailey in the Lake District. He now lives with actress Emma Ferguson, who gave birth to their first child, a boy named Elwood Jack Owen, two weeks late on 19 August 2006. http://www.markowenofficial.com