Madlingozi Sindile "Ringo"
- Ringo Madlingozi perfoming live
Sindile (Ringo) Madlingozi is a talented soloist, drummer, percussionist and guitarist. He is also a multi-talented songwriter, producer and coordinator of popular music. Ringo was born in Gugulethu Township, Cape Town in 1964 but attended high school in Umtata. He started his career as a lead singer, performing "Acapella" at community and youth functions in Cape Town. Sindile also liked to play drums and that earned him the nickname "Ringo" (from The Beatles' Ringo Starr). Ringo rose to fame when he and his band Peto won the Shell Road to Fame contest in 1986.
Peto disbanded and he later formed a group 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. Ringo moved to Johannesburg, where he spent the early 1990's as a member of Gecko Moon, but left the group after a performance in Swaziland. During this time, he also did a lot of studio session work - for radio commercials, film, and album recordings.
His debut solo album, Vukani (1996), sold tens of thousands of copies. His second album, Sondelani ("Get Closer") was released late in 1997, and with its themes of reconciliation and national unity, carried a strong message for South African people. The album achieved Double Platinum status in sales, awards, and major airplay. This has ensured that Ringo has remained a sought after act on the performing circuit in South Africa. He later released Mamelani (1998) and Into Yam' (1999), Buyisa (2000), Ntumba (2002), Baleka (2004) and Ndim lo (2006). His next album is due out later this year.
Ringo is also well respected for his ability to write, produce and arrange music. He has won many awards for his albums, the South African Music Awards (SAMA) and the Kora All African Music Awards, where, among others, he won the award for "Best Male Artist in Southern Africa and the African Continent". His live shows have also earned Ringo compliments. He is in demand as a creative collaborator and has worked with well-known local and international stars.
Ringo also works hard to raise awareness about social issues. For the past few years Ringo has been working with the Takalani Home for the Disabled in Soweto, the Sinethemba Home in Benoni, the Van Rijn Place of Safety in Benoni, the Siyazigabisa Home of Hope in Thembisa and the Enkuselweni Place of Safety in Port Elizabeth. Recently, he has been given the position of Ambassadorship for the HIV/AIDS and Anti-Women and Child Abuse Campaign by the Gauteng Department of Social Welfare. Ringo has also worked with Khuluma Ndoda, an anti-women abuse movement.
"His message against abuse, drugs, violence and crime to young people is just as strong and bold as his music whether he is making reference to people who find themselves in jail or the plight of poverty". Quoted from Ringo Madlingozi Productions, He says: "I want to tell young people that despite their trying backgrounds, they can rise above any circumstances and make something out of their lives"
Ringo's desire is to see a unified nation, "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 only material. His purpose is to touch many hearts and spread the message of love. He strives daily 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".
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Dube Lucky
- Lucky Dube performing
Lucky won four OKTV Awards for "Prisoner", another for "Captured Live" the following year and another two for "House Of Exile" the year after. His 1993 album, "Victims", sold over one million copies worldwide. In 1995 he earned a worldwide recording contract with Motown. His album "Trinity" was the first release on Tabu Records after Motown's acquisition of the label.
In 1996 he released a compilation album, "Serious Reggae Business", which led to him being named the Best Selling African Recording Artist at that year's World Music Awards. He was also named as the International Artist Of The Year at the Ghana Music Awards. His next three albums won him South African Music Awards. His most recent album, "Respect", earned a European release through a deal with Warner Music.
Dube toured internationally, sharing stages with artists such as Sinead O'Connor, Peter Gabriel and Sting. He appeared at the 1991 Reggae Sunsplash. He also appeared in the feature films, "Voice In The Dark", "Getting Lucky" and "Lucky Strikes Back".
On October 18, 2007, Lucky Dube was killed in the Johannesburg suburb of Rosettenville. He was shot in his driveway as he was leaving his home to drop off two of his seven children at their uncle's house. Police reports suggest he was shot dead by car hijackers. Several arrests have already been made. Lucky Dube is survived by his wife, Zanele, and his seven children. Our sympathies go to him and to the whole nation, for we have lost an incon, and an important piece of our own history.
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