Colleen (McFarland) Ringvold began singing professionally at age fifteen in her hometown of St. Louis, Missouri, performing as a soloist, and traveling with several bands and orchestras throughout the Midwest.  After receiving her bachelor’s degree in vocal performance from the University of Missouri, she moved to Boston, Massachusetts to pursue a songwriting and recording career, and then to Philadelphia, PA, and Collingswood, New Jersey, which led to the release of two critically acclaimed albums of original songs; Speaking In Rhymes, and Three Miles From Odessa, receiving wide airplay on independent radio in the U.S.  She also worked as a session vocalist, voice-over talent, and jingle singer, recording local spots and national commercials for Nike, and NFL Films.  She has shared the stage as an opening act for Jeff Black, Jeffrey Gaines, Lucinda Williams, Lucy Kaplansky, Freedy Johnston, and Frank Black from the Pixies.

 

After moving to Nashville, TN, Colleen performed and recorded with many renowned musicians and songwriters, and formed the blues and soul band Kicking Stars with legendary guitarist Reeves Gabrels (The Cure, David Bowie).  She also met her husband, Norwegian songwriter and keyboardist Jan Petter Ringvold in Nashville, and they co-founded the Nashville To Norway music festival in 2010 and 2011, which brought many artists and hit songwriters from Nashville to Norway.  Colleen released two additional cds; Beautiful Lie, and Let It Shine (co-produced with award winning songwriter and producer Thomm Jutz) and began licensing her songs for film and television, including CBS and Universal Studios.  She continues to write, record, and produce her own music, as well as songs and videos with Jan Petter Ringvold, sharing them on YouTube, OurSongsRadio.com, and TheRingvolds.com.  Colleen is also a seasoned private music instructor in voice, piano, and guitar, and has co-written songs with several of her students.

 

Jan Petter (J.P.) Ringvold was born and raised in Raufoss, Norway, and currently works as a session player and keyboardist for many Nashville bands and artists.  As a successful touring musician in the U.S. and Europe, he has played with several renowned bands including Sonic Debris, Kamelot, The Sowing Circle (founded by Bon Jovi hit songwriter Billy Falcon) performing as the opening act for several major concerts for Bon Jovi in the U.S. and Norway.  Under the artist name Peter Nova, he released an album of original songs called Salesmen in Exile, with songs produced by acclaimed Norwegian producer and guitarist Jon Anders Narum, producer and bassist Ole C. Kvœrnsveen, and Nashville based guitarist and producer Thomm Jutz (Nancy Griffith). Salesmen In Exile received wide airplay.

 

J.P. also co-founded the Nashville To Norway music festival in 2010 and 2011 with his wife Colleen McFarland Ringvold, which brought Norwegian and Nashville musicians, artists and hit songwriters together for the first time at the Olympic Mountain Hall stadium 'Fjellhallen' in Gjøvik, Norway.   He also played keyboards in the blues and soul band Kicking Stars, featuring guitarist extraordinaire, Reeves Gabrels.  Jan Petter continues to write, record, and produce his own music, as well as songs with his wife Colleen.