Jason Orange
The grounded dancer and singer whose understated charisma and everyman appeal were a crucial, balancing force in the pop phenomenon Take That.
Born 1970 (age 56)·British pop singer·Birthday: July 10·Generation X
Biography
Jason Orange entered the spotlight not as a trained vocalist, but as a dancer with raw potential. Discovered in Manchester, he was brought into the carefully assembled boy band Take That in 1990. While not the primary lead singer, Orange's role was multifaceted; he provided harmonies, co-wrote songs, and his athletic dance moves became a central part of the group's explosive stage shows. His relatable, down-to-earth persona offered a contrast to the more flamboyant styles of his bandmates, making him a fan favorite. After the group's initial split in 1996, he largely stepped away from public life. His return for the 2005 reunion was met with enormous enthusiasm, and he contributed to Take That's remarkable second act as a mature pop act. In a move that surprised many, he quietly retired from the entertainment industry in 2014, choosing a private life over continued fame, a decision that reflected the unassuming nature he was always known for.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Jason was born in 1970, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Jason Was Born
The biggest hits of 1970
#1 Movie
Love Story
Best Picture
Patton
#1 TV Show
Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
Jason's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1970Born
First Earth Day; The Beatles break up
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $17,000Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Bridge over Troubled Water" — Simon & GarfunkelBest Picture: Patton
1975Started school
Fall of Saigon ends the Vietnam War
Gas: $0.57/galHome: $27,600Min wage: $2.10/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Love Will Keep Us Together" — Captain & TennilleBest Picture: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
1983Became a teenager
Internet adopts TCP/IP, creating the modern internet
Gas: $1.16/galHome: $57,700Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Every Breath You Take" — The PoliceBest Picture: Terms of Endearment
1986Could drive
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1988Could vote
Pan Am Flight 103 bombed over Lockerbie
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $74,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Faith" — George MichaelBest Picture: Rain Man
1991Turned 21
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
2000Turned 30
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2010Turned 40
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2020Turned 50
COVID-19 pandemic shuts down the world
Gas: $2.17/galHome: $248,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Blinding Lights" — The WeekndBest Picture: Nomadland
2026Age 56 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- He was a founding member of Take That, one of the UK's best-selling music groups of all time.
- He co-wrote several Take That songs, including the hit 'Never Forget' from the 'Nobody Else' album.
- He performed as part of the group for their record-breaking 'Progress Live' stadium tour in 2011.
- He was part of Take That's multiple BRIT Award wins, including for Best British Single and Outstanding Contribution.
Did You Know?
Before joining Take That, he worked as a mechanic and a double-glazing window fitter.
He was a skilled breakdancer and initially joined the group more for his dance ability than his singing.
He is known for being intensely private and has largely avoided social media and the celebrity circuit.
He turned down an invitation to participate in the 2018 'Strictly Come Dancing' television series.
“I was the dancer who found his voice in the harmony of the group.”
