************************************************************************************************************************* HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ************************************************************************************************************************* 23 January 2014 Last updated at 05:27 ET [image: Joseph Shabalala] Joseph Shabalala formed Ladysmith Black Mambazo 50 years ago Joseph Shabalala, who performed at a memorial concert for Nelson Mandela last month, will "enjoy the fruits of his hard work".The founder of South African group Ladysmith Black Mambazo is to take a back seat at the age of 73, their manager has announced. He will not take part in the choral groups's forthcoming three-month tour. The group shot to fame when they recorded the Graceland album with Paul Simon in 1986. They have won three Grammys and are nominated for a fourth at Sunday's ceremony in the US, for their album Singing For Peace Around the World. Shabalala will stay at home in South Africa. Ladysmith's manager Xolani Majozi said: "Because of his age we want him to relax a bit, not to be involved in intensive tours. "He can still perform, but we don't want to overwork him. We think he has done his part," he added. A number of Shabalala's sons continue to perform in the 12-strong group, along with one of his grandsons. The former farm worker is said to have founded the group in the 1960s after a series of dreams and began performing at weddings and a number of local functions. He began his singing career at the age of 25. Ladysmith's work with Paul Simon sparked further international success, including work with a number of artists including Dolly Parton, Michael Jackson and Melissa Etheridge. They performed a version of Swing Low, Sweet Chariot for the 1995 Rugby World Cup which reached 15 in the UK chart. -- Ann Marie ################################################################################################# Join the African Association of Madison, Inc. for $25 per year. Mail check to: AAM, PO Box 1016, Madison, WI 53701 Phone: 608-258-0261 Email: [log in to unmask] Web: www.AfricanAssociationofMadison.org ################################################################################################# *** Send email to the list: [log in to unmask] *** *** Access AAM list archives: http://listserv.icors.org/archives/AAM.html ***