Pittsburgh Girlie

Ladysmith Black Mambazo

Last night I went to a concert. I bought tickets on a lark. I knew I had heard and liked this group. What I didn’t realize was how much I had actually already heard from the group. I was surprised how many people recognized their name, simply because I had just discovered them. I bet you’ve heard them too.

Here is a Lifesaver’s commercial that I know you have seen if you lived in the US in the 90’s.

Their biography is really long, so I pulled some of it over here for you.

The group has recorded with numerous artists from around the world besides Paul Simon. Some of these include Stevie Wonder, Josh Groban, Dolly Parton, Ben Harper, Mavis Staples, Andreas Vollenweider, The Wynans, The Coors and George Clinton. Their film work includes a featured
appearance in Michael Jackson’s video “Moonwalker” and Spike Lee’s “Do It A Cappella”. Black Mambazo has provided soundtrack material for Disney’s “The Lion King Part II”,  Eddie Murphy’s “Coming To America”, Marlon Brando’s “A Dry White Season”, James Earl Jones’ “Cry The Beloved Country” and Sean Connery’s “League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen”.  They also can be heard singing the theme song to a children’s tv show, in the USA, called “Land Before Time.”

You can watch/listen to the video for Land Before Time. (Really, I know you want to click. I know you watched and own all the movies too…wait, that’s just me? Crap.)

Anyway, the concert.

I was at first disappointed that there were no images or videos of birds or something to do with the songs being projected. After the first song I really appreciated it being just them on the stage. I could really feel the music. And it was obvious that they were having a great time. I remembered my mom telling me that her favorite concert was just the artist and his piano on the stage. That was Elton John and I bet it was like magic.

A few months ago I saw a concert that was similar. I saw Keller Williams. It was one man and lots of instruments. The concert last night with Ladysmith Black Mambazo was many men and one instrument. And it was simply beautiful.