Just over 50 years ago a young farm boy from a city 230km northwest of Durban had a dream in which he was told to form an isicathamiya [an a cappella] group.
He did and the group became a favourite not only at weddings at which they played but also on stages internationally.
Yesterday, Joseph Shabalala, who founded three-time Grammy Award-winning Ladysmith Black Mambazo, announced that he was to retire.
He broke the news at the group's official send-off breakfast ahead of Sunday's 56th edition of music's biggest night, the Grammy Awards.
It's the end of an era - despite assurances that the group will continue to entertain local and international crowds. But the Grammys are sandwiched in a long US tour.
The tour begins on Friday in Tennessee, then moves to Virginia, Pennsylvania, New York, Massachusetts, Ohio, Michigan, Minnesota, California and Florida. It ends on March 23.
Shabalala and the band flew out of the country last night.
At 73 , it was time for Shabalala to slow down, said executive producer Xolani Majozi. "He is not ill, but he is considering his health."
But Shabalala, said Majozi, will be available for "special appearances".
The Mambazo Musical begins on April 17 at the State Theatre, Pretoria. It runs until May 10.
Mambazo fans include collaborators Stevie Wonder, Josh Groban, Melissa Etehridge and Sarah McLachlan.
Last year they released Live: Singing for Peace Around the World, a collection of songs they recorded during their world tours, which won them a Grammy nomination for best world music album. This year they will go up against Gipsy Kings, Femi Kuti, Savor Flamenco and Ravi Shankar for the same accolade.
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