Catherine Ringer

Catherine Ringer, a vocalist from France, gained recognition primarily through her role as the lead singer in the pop/rock duo Les Rita Mitsouko. This pair achieved widespread popularity in 1985 thanks to their successful track "Marcia Baila." Her initial solo release came in the form of the live recording Chante les Rita Mitsouko and More à la Cigale (2008), issued twelve months following the passing of her musical partner and guitarist Fred Chichin. She entered the world on October 18, 1957, in Suresnes, France. Throughout the 1970s, Ringer pursued dance studies while also taking on acting roles. In 1979, she crossed paths with Chichin, a guitarist involved in various French rock groups at the time. The pair established Les Rita Mitsouko as a result. Featuring Chichin handling guitar duties and Ringer providing vocals, the duo performed live for the first time in 1980 and entered the studio in 1982 for their initial single, "Minuit Dansant." Their first complete album, Rita Mitsouko, appeared in 1984. It featured the major success "Marcia Baila," which climbed to the second position on the French singles chart during 1985. The accompanying video drew inspiration from Ringer's previous dance instructor, Argentine choreographer Marcia Moretto. Tony Visconti, known for his production work with David Bowie, oversaw the duo's subsequent efforts, The No Comprendo (1986) and Marc & Robert (1988). The No Comprendo proved particularly impactful, yielding the notable tracks "Andy" and "C'est Comme Ça," and earning the Victoires de la Musique honor for Best Album of the Year. Ringer joined forces with Marc Lavoine in 1988 on the popular duet "Qu'est-ce Que T'es Belle." During the 1990s, she worked with Coba on several pieces and contributed to various film scores and collections. Nevertheless, she maintained her primary association with Les Rita Mitsouko across the years, even as the duo remained largely inactive for much of that decade. It was only following Chichin's unexpected passing due to cancer in 2007 that Ringer ventured into solo territory. The live CD/DVD Chante les Rita Mitsouko and More à la Cigale (2008) came out on the anniversary of his death and showcased many of the duo's well-known songs.