About Ramli Sarip
Born 1952. Ramli Sarip is a Singaporean singer and actor.
Datuk Ramli bin Sarip (born 15 October 1952), Ramli was the front man and lead singer of the Singapore-based heavy metal-rock group Sweet Charity until 1986.
He was given the title of 'Datuk' by the Yang di-Pertua Negeri of the State of Malacca on the occasion of the latter's birthday in 2013.
Career 1964β1986: Sweet Charity Established in 1964, the Singapore-based Malay rock band Sweet Charity had Ramli as its frontman and lead singer until he left in 1986. Sweet Charity was reportedly so successful in the 1970s to the 1980s that they ignited a "rock explosion" in both Singapore and Malaysia.
After 1986: Solo career and other endeavours For some time, Ramli was signed under Warner Music. He formed five-piece band, Sangkakala, to serve as his backing band. Three years later, Radio Televisyen Malaysia had imposed a seven-year ban on him due to him maintaining his long hair, which was a strict performing no-no from the broadcaster at the time. As of 2011, Ramli has released 12 solo albums. He also starred in Talking Cock the Movie, a Singaporean satirical film in 2002. In 2019, after being critically criticised and lambasted for sung the "soulful" and "soul-stirring" version of Singapore's national anthem, he stays low profile for quite some time, whereby even Dr. Rohana Zubir (daughter of the late Zubir Said who was the original composer) came out to criticise heavily the rocker's rendition in an open letter in public, she wrote that, "Sadly, the revised rendition of 'Majulah Singapura' lacks the quality, the oomph, of a national anthem. It is rather tortuous to listen to." She further added: "The people of Singapore are wonderfully creative but this creativity should not extend to meddling with the musical score of the country's national anthem. This is one area where there should not be change. It is also important for Singaporeans to be proud of their history and to respect individuals, such as my father, for their contribution to nation-building."
2019 National Day Parade In 2019, Ramil Sarip performed "Majulah Singapura" at the National Day Parade.
2025 National Day Parade In 2025, Ramli Sarip performed a spoken-words rendition of "Majulah Singapura" together with Shye Anne Brown, Pallavi, and Tosh Zhang at the National Day Parade.
Honours Honours of Malaysia
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Important facts
People in Ramli Sarip's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Ramli Sarip's
Frequently asked questions
Who is Ramli Sarip?
Singaporean singer
When was Ramli Sarip born?
Ramli Sarip was born on 15 October 1952 in Singapore.
What is Ramli Sarip's occupation?
Ramli Sarip is a singer and actor.
What nationality is Ramli Sarip?
Ramli Sarip is Singaporean.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Ramli Sarip. https://biography.guide/ramli-sarip/
MLA: "Ramli Sarip." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/ramli-sarip/.
Chicago: "Ramli Sarip." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/ramli-sarip/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-22 Β· Spot an error? Report a correction.
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