Seymour Stein, the man who signed Madonna, has spoken about his initial introduction to the young singer in a hospital.

Stein, who also signed The Ramones and Talking Heads, was recovering from a heart infection when DJ Mark Kamins suggested he should meet her.

"I was in the hospital, I had her come see me in the hospital," he told the BBC. "We talked a deal in the hospital and we did the deal in the hospital.”

Stein said Madonna's “staunch determination” was what persuaded him to sign the singer, who has gone on to become a global superstar.

“I knew she would work as hard as I did and much harder, in fact. And that's what you need in an artist,” he said.

"She worked harder than anybody. I just saw her perform in Berlin, and she still works harder than anybody."

Madonna went with Stein to Warner Bros, where she stayed until last year when she signed an all encompassing deal with Live Nation.

The singer is currently performing on her Sticky & Sweet world tour. You can see highlights from the 27-date tour below.