Rick Astley is a British pop singer, born on February 6, 1966 in Newton-le-Willows, Lancashire. Astley began his career in 1985 as a member of the new wave band Depeche Mode, before leaving the group to pursue a solo career. In 1987, he released his first single "Never Gonna Give You Up," which topped the UK singles charts and became an international hit. His first album, "Whenever You Need Somebody" (1987), was also a commercial success, reaching number one on both the UK and US album charts. Astley continued to release albums and singles throughout the 1990s, but was unable to replicate his initial success. In 2001, he made a comeback with the album "Keep It Turned On". In 2016, he released his eighth studio album, "50". In 2013, Astley was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth II for services to music.