Born in Soweto in South Africa, in 1942, Xhosa tribe member Letta Mbulu followed in the footsteps of Mariam Makeba and Hugh Masekela, leaving behind her homeland in 1964 to escape the repressive yoke of Apartheid. Upon emigrating to the United States, she began to forge her sound, blending her South African traditions with American soul and pop, collaborating with jazz saxophonist Julian “Cannonball” Adderly and Harry Belafonte, who served as a mentor to the singer. Starting in the late ’60s, Mbulu released a series of albums with esteemed producers like David Axelrod, Herb Alpert and Quincy Jones, who featured her vocals on his soundtracks for the miniseries Roots as well as the film The Color Purple.