BLOGGING THE VIEW: Remembering Rodriguez: 7 cold facts about the legend

I might be a bit late to the game in writing about the death of Sixto Rodriguez, but I think any South African can be forgiven for having to verify the information, considering that – to many of us – Rodriguez was officially announced dead sometime in the 80s.

But the sad reality is true, the Sugar Man singer has passed over to the other side. However, he can rest easy knowing that he finally got a taste of his well-deserved fame.

Here are 7 quick facts to remember Rodriguez.

1. Finding Sugar Man

As you might well know, it was a couple of South Africans who managed to unearth Sixto Rodriguez at his home in Detroit, USA almost two decades where he was living the life of a construction worker – not the rock star he should’ve been. This formed the basis for the Oscar-winning documentary, Finding Sugar Man, prompting Rodriguez into the global spotlight.

2. Australian discovery

Long before Finding Sugar Man, Rodriguez did enjoy some semblance of fame in Australia when promoter Zev Eizik tracked him down in 1979. He toured Australia twice, in 1979 and 1981, before he stopped performing again.

3. Anti-apartheid impact

Many South Africans grew up with a copy of Sixto Rodriguez’s Cold Fact album because the music resonated with the anti-apartheid movement. His songs were played at rallies and protests as he became a symbol for resistance against apartheid.

4. A life of obscurity

Cold Fact didn’t do well in the US largely because of insufficient marketing coupled with financial problems suffered by the musical label, Sussex Records. The next album, Coming from Reality, was also incorrectly credited to either Jesus Rodriguez (his brother Jesse Rodriguez) or Sixth Prince to avoid release delays – but this impacted his royalties.

5. A life of fame

After the film’s release, Rodriguez attained international fame and went on to release new music and tour the globe. True to his nature, Rodriguez became involved in political causes, environmentalism, and social justice – but the fame that came later in life meant never really changed the man himself.

6. Outside of the music

When not playing at clubs, Rodriguez worked as a labourer and also spent years teaching after earning a Bachelor of Philosophy degree from Wayne State University’s Monteith College in 1981. The university awarded him an honorary doctorate in 2013. He also dabbled in politics, unsuccessfully running for mayor of Detroit (1981 and 1993) and the Michigan House of Representatives (2000).

7. In the end

While his cause of death at 81 has not been revealed, he underwent an operation to repair damage caused by a stroke in February this year. Rodriguez is survived by three daughters. And his music.

SOURCES:
https://oldtimemusic.com/sixto-rodriguez-facts/
https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/rodriguez-10-things-you-dont-know-about-the-searching-for-sugar-man-star-99288/
https://www.reuters.com/world/us/searching-sugar-man-singer-sixto-rodriguez-dead-81-2023-08-09/
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Rodriguez

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