Sixto Rodriguez was an internationally recognized Detroit musician best known in the United States for being featured in the Oscar-winning documentary “Searching for Sugar Man.”
- Died: August 8, 2023 (Who else died on August 8?)
- Details of death: Died at the age of 81.
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Sixto Rodriguez’s legacy
Born in Detroit to Mexican immigrants who came to work in the city’s industrial sector, Rodriguez grew up poor and struggling with isolation. He channeled those experiences into his music, singing about marginalization, the difficulties faced by low-wage families, and feeling like an outcast, on his 1970 and 1971 albums, “Cold Fact” and “Coming from Reality.”
In the United States, Rodriguez’s records were largely ignored. He retired from music in 1976, going on to work low-income labor jobs. He was politically active, running for a series of elected offices, but never won any of his campaigns. His life remained one of obscurity — or so he thought.
Unbeknownst to him, Rodriguez’s music had slowly gained a huge following overseas from the 1970s through the 1990s, especially in South Africa. His albums sold in large numbers, but fans knew little about the man or his life. Some even believed he had died in the 1970s. While browsing the Internet in 1997, Rodriguez’s daughter, Eva, discovered her father’s overseas fan base. What followed was a belated career explosion that included large-scale sold-out shows, platinum albums, and hit songs.
Rodriguez’s unexpected journey to stardom was chronicled in the 2012 documentary, “Searching for Sugar Man.” The film won a slew of awards, including the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature, and finally brought Rodriguez recognition in the U.S. He appeared on magazine covers, performed on late-night television, and staged national tours. His late-life surge in popularity only slowed down with age and poor health; he was still touring as recently as 2018 while in his late 70s.
Tributes to Sixto Rodriguez
Full obituary: The Detroit News
