Sixto Rodriguez

One of the most fascinating musical success stories was that of psychedelic folk singer-songwriter Sixto Rodriguez – born Jesus Sixto Diaz-Rodriguez on July 10, 1942, in Detroit, Michigan - who achieved international success when his music was rediscovered by a new generation of fans four decades after the release of his only two studio albums. His musical career began in 1967 when he released his debut single, “I’ll Slip Away,” under the name Rod Riguez. However, he didn’t release another record again until he issued his debut, Cold Fact, in 1970. Although the unique album – which straddled the line between folk rock and psychedelic rock – received positive reviews, it was not a success in the US. After the commercial failure of his second album, Coming from Reality (1971), Sixto Rodriguez left the music business and began a career in the construction industry. He was politically active and ran for public office several times but was never elected. Unbeknownst to him, his albums began to gain a strong following in Australia, New Zealand, Rhodesia, and South Africa. While he was aware of his popularity in Australia, he was completely unaware of how popular he was in South Africa, where he was compared to songwriters such as Cat Stevens and Bob Dylan. Little was known about Sixto Rodriguez so many stories began to circulate in South Africa including a false rumor that he had committed suicide on stage in the 1970s. In the late 1990s, South African fans tracked him down, and this led to a revival of interest in his music. In 2009, his two albums were reissued by Light in the Attic Records, which introduced him to a new generation of fans. In 2012, the documentary Searching for Sugar Man, which focused on his music and career, was released to great acclaim and Sixto Rodriguez finally achieved the international fame that had eluded him for 40 years. Several live albums and compilations had been released in South Africa and Australia over the years, but his first US compilation was the soundtrack to Searching for Sugar Man (2012). He was able to enjoy the resurgence of interest in his music and toured frequently (until 2018), although he never released a third studio album. Sixto Rodriguez died on August 8, 2023, at the age of 81.

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