South Africa Inspires Josh Groban
April 26, 2006 — -- Josh Groban has taken the music world by storm, selling out New York City's Madison Square Garden in 22 minutes during his tour.
Although his voice has never been classically trained, his multiplatinum album "Closer" and hits like "You Raise Me Up" have created a legion of fans called "Grobanites."
Last year, his tour took him to South Africa. It was a trip that changed Groban's outlook forever.
"I had wanted to visit South Africa for many, many years," Groban said, "and, um, it was an incredible thing to be performing for the fans in South Africa who have been incredibly supportive ever since the beginning. But it was life-changing because I made sure to take some extra time off to meet with Nelson Mandela, understand firsthand what his organization, 46664, is doing for AIDS awareness in South Africa."
That meeting inspired his latest album and opened him up to a larger worldview. He teamed up with the renowned South African group Ladysmith Black Mambazo. Founded in 1974 by Joseph Shabalala, the band may be best recognized for its contributions to Paul Simon's "Graceland."
"I've been a fan of theirs for as long as I can remember," Groban said. "Their sound is just magical."
Groban, 25, said working with Ladysmith had "been an absolute pleasure in every sense of the word." It turns out the band members are big fans of his, too.
"We're all very happy and proud to work together with a young star like this," Shabalala said.
"He's a very good man, has a beautiful voice," he said. "He has a gift from God!"
ABC News' Charlie Gibson originally reported this story for "Good Morning America."
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