Singer-songwriter Sixto Rodriguez passed away yesterday of complications of a stroke he sustained last year. He was 81.
Born to Mexican immigrants in Detroit, Rodriguez recorded two albums in the early 1970's (Cold Fact and Coming from Reality) to little fanfare. Rodriguez spent most of his adult life as a day laborer who was politically active unsuccessfully running for city council, mayor and state representative.
Unbeknownst to Rodriguez, his two albums had become enormously popular in Apartheid-era South Africa where he was more popular than Elvis, The Beatles or The Rolling Stones. There had been an urban myth in South Africa that Rodriguez took his own life on stage. However, in the late 1990s, two South African fans took it upon themselves to seek out Rodriguez and found him in Detroit. Soon after, Rodriguez performed a series of sold out shows in South Africa.
However, it would not be until the release of the 2012 documentary Searching for Sugarman that Rodriguez attained fame in North America and in Europe. Searching for Sugar Man would earn the Oscar for Best Documentary. Sadly, Swedish filmmaker Malik Bendjelloul would take his own life in 2014 at the age of 36.
I had the privilege of seeing Rodriguez perform in Boston at The Orpheum Theatre in May 2014. The one song I wished he had played that night is "Sandrevan Lullaby/Lifestyles" as it requires string accompaniment. Sandrevan is portmanteau of his three daughters Sandra, Eva and Regan who survive him. In Rodriguez's honor, I leave you with "Sandrevan Lullaby/Lifestyles". R.I.P.
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