Ritschi is a Swiss German pop singer who made his solo album debut in 2009 after years of chart-topping success as the frontman of the pop band Plüsch. Born Andreas Ritschard on March 7, 1979, he founded his first band, V.I.P., in 1997 and made his first demo recording, "Fat Rabbit," the following year. In time, V.I.P. became Plüsch, a Swiss German pop band comprised of Roger Meier (aka Röschel; guitar), Simon Ryf (aka Simi; bass), Andreas Hunziker (aka Hunzi; keyboards), and Alexander Balajew (aka Bali; drums), in addition to Ritschard (aka Ritschi; vocals). Upon signing to Columbia Records, the band made its eponymous album debut in 2002 with Plüsch. Over the course of six months, the album rose to Top Ten success and earned the band a Prix Walo for Newcomer of the Year. The band's first hit to reach the Swiss singles chart, "Häbs Guet," was featured on a September 2002 re-release of Plüsch. The follow-up albums Sidefiin (2004) and Früsch Gwäsche (2006) were both chart-toppers; the former spawned the hit singles "Irgendeinisch," "I Setze Alls," and "Jede Tag (U Jedi Nacht)," while the latter spawned "Wunder Passiere," "Isch Es Wäge Mir," and "Heimweh." In 2009 Ritschi made his solo debut with Probier Mi Doch Mal Us, which reached number two on the Swiss albums chart. The lead single, "Schisstäg," was a Top 20 hit. Around the same time, Ritschi teamed up with Swiss German superstar vocalists Baschi, Bligg, Ritschi, and Seven for the chart-topping smash hit "Stahn Uf." ~ Jason Birchmeier