Ladysmith Black Mambazo at ACL Live [Show Preview]

Image From ACL Live

Ladysmith Black Mambazo at ACL Live
Saturday, January 21
ACL Live at the Moody Theater (310 Willie Nelson Blvd)
$25-35, Doors at 6:30, Show at 8pm
[info] | [tickets]

Forty years and change - that's how long South African vocal group Ladysmith Black Mambazo have been a cultural presence. Founder Joseph Shabalala formed the group in 1960, but it was in '64 that he was inspired to change the group's direction based on a series of recurring dreams. The group was successful in their country, but Apartheid and a general cluelessness about African music in the West prevented Ladysmith from breaking here.

Change came in 1985, the year Paul Simon traveled to South Africa to find musicians to help him record would be his chart-topping, lauded, groundbreaking Graceland album. After their appearance on the album, their momentum was unstoppable, and is perhaps best surmised by this clip of the band on "Sesame Street" [at 2:10] urging Ernie to play a saxophone without the accompaniment of his rubber duckie (Pee Wee Herman and Mets players also contribute).

The group are currently touring behind Ladysmith Black Mambazo and Friends, a two-disc album released this month that features collaborations with Taj Mahal, Dolly Parton,Josh Groban and more. Furthermore, they'll be appearing in a documentary about Graceland's 25th anniversary called Paul Simon: Under African Skies directed by Joe Berlinger.

Ladysmith Black Mambazo: [official]