One of South Africa’s most beloved balladeers, Afrosoul icon Ringo Madlingozi is known for his soothing croons and his emotive vocalizations on the subjects of love and romantic relationships. Born in 1964 in the Eastern Cape town of Peddie, the singer enjoyed his first break when his band, Peto, won the popular Shell Road to Fame contest in 1986. After working as a backing vocalist for other artists for a few years, he released his debut solo album, Vukani, in 1996. But it was the following year’s Sondelani that etched Ringo’s name in South African music history; the single “Sondela” remains a wedding reception staple to this day—just one of many instances of the artist penning songs that audiences maintain a profound connection with for years.