Benjamin Dube

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Dube was born the youngest of four children in Johannesburg in 1962, to minister Benjamin and gospel singer and educator Grace. The boy's parents formed a family group called the Dube Family Singers. At age seven, Benjamin, Jr. began singing and touring internationally on the church circuit with the group and at 12, in 1974, he learned to play guitar, piano, and drums. In 1976, Benjamin, Sr. was murdered. Grace took the Dube Family Singers out of the country for a time, touring European churches. While in the Netherlands in 1977, they cut the album Father Forgive Them; its title track was penned by Benjamin Dube, Jr. As the family group continued to tour, Dube began studying for the ministry. He was ordained in 1986 at age 24. That same year he cut the single: "Holy Spirit" as Benjamin & the Youth Choir. Produced by Chicco Twala for Dephon Records' Ron B label, it was a cross-over hit in South Africa and sold more than 25,000 copies. In 1988, he released the album Ebenezer. Its title cut featured the late South African-born reggae star Lucky Dube (no relation) on duet vocals. The record also sold well in and outside the gospel genre; Dube had become a household name in South Africa. He supported the Rev. James Cleveland on a South African Tour. He went over so well, he won a spot on American tour supporting gospel music legend Andrae Crouch and the Mighty Clouds of Joy. He also sang on the Dube Family Singers' albums We're What We Are and Love Africa to round out the decade. Dube moved to EMI’s CCP Records, and recorded a self-titled album with star producer Sizwe Zako.