Josh Groban To Honor Nelson Mandela

Internationally Acclaimed Vocalist Joins Stellar Line-Up To Sing At Mandela's 90th Birthday Celebration

(CBS) 
Groban who sang with the African Children's Choir on "American Idol's" "Idol Gives Back" episode, acknowledges the power in numbers when it comes to audience participation and charity donations.

Although Groban is a supporter of "Idol Gives Back," he admits that he has some conflicting opinions of the show itself.

"I have very mixed feelings about the 'Idol' thing to be honest," Groban admitted. "I think there are great things about it when they do it right and things about it that are a little bit for entertainment value only, but certainly when there is something like 'Idol Gives Back' it's a perfect example of them using their tremendous power for a lot of good. I was really honored to be a part of it."

Groban was able to honor another legend in a tribute to the late Luciano Pavarotti at the 2008 Grammy Awards, alongside pop opera singer Andrea Bocelli.

The two performed "The Prayer," which ironically was sung by Groban 10 years ago when he filled in for Bocelli as a rehearsal stand-in with Celine Dion.

"It was a tremendous honor for both of us," Groban said. "Andrea knew Luicano very, very well and I had the pleasure of meeting him a couple of times. He was one of the greatest voices of our generation.

"The song for me was one of my biggest breaks. It was a huge, full-circle moment for me," Groban reminisced. "It is such a beautiful song and it's such a great tribute to those we have lost. It was one of those moments I will remember forever."

Groban recently released his live CD/DVD "Awake Live," which was directed by Hamish Hamilton and performed at Salt Lake City's Energy Solutions Arena to a sold-out crowd of 15,000 on August 28, 2007.

He also took part in "Chess the Concert," which was performed at London's Royal Albert Hall on May 12-13, and will air on PBS stations in 2009.

[brianbwb-2009]

The sweetest part is that Mandela outlived his jailers.