Genre: Traditional
WebSite
Description: To millions of his followers in South Africa, on the African continent and around the rest of the world, he is simply known as Ringo - and to them there is only one Ringo.

He burst on to the scene during the Shell Road to Fame contest with his friends and fellow band members, Peto, back in 1986. Today he has proved to be a constant crowd-puller at concerts around the country, who remains a firm favourite with his fans.

After Peto, Ringo started a band called Gecko Moon with Alan Cameron, a fellow Peto member. The band had a hit with Green-Green, a crossover track that was well received.

Since his debut solo album, Vukani, he has been unstoppable in his move up the music ladder. He has scooped multiple awards for his albums, including South African Music Awards (Samas) and Kora All African Music Awards, where, among others, he has won Best Male Artist in Southern Africa and the African Continent.

He recently collaborated with British reggae group UB40 as part of the United Nations global Aids awareness programme, recording the Xhosa lyrics of Cover Up. Brian Travers, UB40's saxophonist, describes Ringo's music as "fantastic"; this after listening to Ringo's Buyisa.

In May 2003, Ringo Live was recorded at the State Theatre in Pretoria and released in both DVD and CD format in August that year. It has sold more than 150 000 units, reaching multi-platinum status; the DVD has sold over 60 000 units.

The following year Ringo released his album Baleka, which has sold more than 75 000 units. On that album, he worked with Dillon O'Bryan, who wrote The Temptations' song Soul to Soul.

His latest offering, Love Songs, is a compilation was released on 14 February 2006, selling over 25 000 copies within the first month of its release.

Having established himself as a popular brand after seven studio albums, one live CD/DVD and one compilation album, Ringo is destined for greater things, as he works his way up the music ladder on his latest studio album and his next DVD offering.

On the local front he has produced the world renowned Miriam "Mama Africa" Makeba and Durban gospel greats Avante. There are few South African artists as in tune with the "rhythm of their soul" as Sindile Ringo Madlingozi. From his debut solo release, Vukani, in 1996 to his latest offering, Ndim Lo, Ringo - as this artist is affectionately known - has carved out a niche for himself as an artist who is able to craft songs that are rooted in an authentic African voice, yet appeal to a wide mass of people.

It wasn't always like this for this Gugulethu, Cape Town-born singer, producer and songwriter. It was a chance encounter with the renowned producer and head of Island Records, Chris Blackwell, that changed the course of Ringo's creative life.

"Blackwell chided me for not sticking to what I know best - my people, my language and my culture," Ringo says. "It was as if a bright light had been turned on in my mind and this led directly to the recording of my debut album, Vukani."

That album marked a new direction for Ringo. Literally meaning "Wake up", it firmly rooted Ringo in the African pop genre, giving expression to the ukuxhentsa rhythms that had inspired the singer in his youth when he used to listen to amagqirha, or traditional healers, in his neighborhood and appreciate their rhythms.

The addition of a contemporary sound while still being grounded in the tradition of the Xhosa guitar, cemented what has now become known as the "Ringo" sound. "It took 12 years to release an album that expresses the real me," Ringo says.

The sound has found its expression in several other releases, each one building on the success of the last. Among these are Sondelani (1997), Mamelani (1998), Into Yam' (1999), Buyisa (2000), Ntumba (2002) and Baleka (2004). They've earned Ringo several awards, including Best Male Vocalist in 1998 and 1999 at the South African Music Awards as well as Best Male Artist (Southern Africa) and Best Male Artist (South Africa) and Best Male Vocalist (African Continent) at the 1998 and 1999 Kora awards respectively.

His energetic live shows have also earned Ringo much acclaim and, as Ndim Lo shows, Ringo continues to push musical boundaries to create some of the continent's most awesome music.

In 2003 he wowed European audiences at the North Sea Jazz Festival (Den Hague, Netherlands) and Festival de Jazz De Vitoria Gastteiz Airtel (Spain). He continues to spread his wings around the globe, such as his 2004 stint in the United States that included the New Orleans Jazz Festival. He has performed in European countries such as the United Kingdom, France, Netherlands, Spain and Germany.

Ringo's mission and vision
Ringo's mission in life is, through his music, to preach about love, awaken the spirit of togetherness and fill the hearts of those who are destitute with hope and belief in a better tomorrow.

He also wishes to see a united society, striving for the betterment of all mankind without regard to one's race, religion, language, sexual orientation or creed. Ringo's success in life is not material but his quest to touch many a heart and spread the message of love.

Every day Ringo strives to stay true to his life purpose, which is comfort. Through his music and social responsibilities, he manages to achieve this to a large degree.

His life vision is, 'Using the wisdom of the universe to create music that will heal'.

Social responsibilities
For the past few years, Ringo has been working with, or assisting in the following centres: Takalani Home for the Disabled in Soweto, Sinethemba Home in Benoni, Van Rijn Place of Safety in Benoni, Siyazigabisa Home of Hope in Thembisa and in Port Elizabeth, Enkuselweni Place of Safety.

In Enkuselweni, Ringo works with the youth to motivate them and give financial assistance in the form of donations and benefit concerts. At Van Rijn he has been doing the same and assisting them with music training and together with Sindi Dlathu of Muvhango fame, they also coached the kids in dance.

He has assisted a few times with collecting clothes for and giving Christmas gifts to the children there.

In Takalani home he has given some entertainment for the residents in the form of free unplugged sessions and also gives food and financial donations whenever necessary. At Sinethemba, he plays more of a parental role to the kids, as it is a fairly small home, with fewer kids. He guides and motivates the kids and accompanies them to their school functions, such as matric dances.

He assists with buying clothes and gifts for the children and assists wherever and whenever it is necessary. In Durban, together with Nkosi Ngubane, he started the Adopt a Child Project, where a person supports an orphaned child.

All this, he does because there is great need for children to be guided, assisted and comforted, because of the challenges they face in our country today. He expects no rewards from the work he does, but seeing a smile light up a child's face is all the reward he needs.

In the recent past he has been given ambassadorship for HIV/Aids and Anti-Women and Child Abuse Campaign by the Gauteng department of social welfare.

He has also worked with Khuluma Ndoda, an anti-women abuse movement started by Patrick Shai.