Ladysmith+Black+Mambazo


 * Ladysmith Black Mambazo**

Ladysmith Black Mambazo is a South African a capella group that was formed in the 1960s by Joesph Shabalala. The group got its name from three diffferent things. The "Ladysmith" part of the name comes from the name of the town where Joesph grew up. "Black" refers to the oxen, which are the strongest of all farm animals. "Mambazo" is the Zulu word for "chopping axe," referring to the group's ability to chop any singing rival who might challenge them. Towards the end of the 1960s, they were banned from competitions due to the tightness of the collected voices and the polished sound of the harmonies.

A radio broadcast in 1970 allowed Ladysmith Black Mambazo to get their first record deal. They have since recorded over fifty albums. In the studio, they strive to keep their people's musical heritage as well as entertain the masses. The group's sound comes from a type of music called isicathamiya, which formed in the South African mines, where black men were taken from their homes to go work. To entertain themselves, they would sing songs until the wee hours of Sunday morning, when the workers would finally be allowed to go home.

In the 1970s - 1980s, Ladysmith Black Mambazo was the most successful singing group in South Africa. In the mid 1980s, the group recorded with Paul Simon on his album "Graceland," and a year later, Simon produced Ladysmith Black Mambazo's first worldwide release, "Shaka Lulu," which won a Grammy award in 1988 for Best Folk Recording. Since then, they got two more Grammy's, "Raise Your Spirit High" in 2004 and "IIembe" in 2009. The group has been nominated for Grammys a total of fifteen times.

Along with working with Paul Simon, they have also worked with other famous musicians, such as Stevie Wonder, Dolly Parton, Sarah McLachlan, Josh Groban, Emmylou Harris, Melissa Etheridge, and many others. They were also in many films, such as Micheal Jackson's Moonwalker video along with Spike Lee's //Do It A Capella//. They also have provided music for films like //The Lion King II, Coming to America, A Dry White Season, The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Cry the Beloved Country,// and //Invictus.// Their documentary, //On Tip Toe: Gentle Steps to Freedom, the Story of Ladysmith Black Mambazo// was nominated for an Academy Award. They have appeared on Broadway, been nominated for Tony Awards and have won a Drama Desk Award.

In recent culture, they have been referenced in the show //Family Guy// and the hit movie //Mean// Girls__.__