Sixto Rodriguez (1942-2023)

August 9, 2023 5:20 PM

When Sixto Rodriguez released his albums Cold Fact and Coming From Reality in the late 1960s, his music was unheralded in his home land. He became a folk hero in apartheid-era South Africa, and he received a late-career boost as the result of the Oscar-winning documentary Searching for Sugar Man [FanFare]. After a stroke, Sixto Rodriguez died this morning. He was 81.
posted by pxe2000 (28 comments total)

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posted by Multicellular Exothermic at 5:34 PM on August 9, 2023

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posted by snuffleupagus at 5:38 PM on August 9, 2023

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Searching for Sugar Man is an excellent documentary, I'll be rewatching it soon.
posted by amelliferae at 5:52 PM on August 9, 2023 [6 favorites]

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I got to see him live in San Francisco after Searching for Sugar Man came out. He seemed to enjoy finally having some well-deserved recognition. I hope the rest of his later years were happy.
posted by bwerdmuller at 5:58 PM on August 9, 2023 [3 favorites]

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posted by Abehammerb Lincoln at 6:27 PM on August 9, 2023

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He was a real musical talent and should've gotten more recognition in the U.S. Godspeed.

(I also thought Searching for Sugar Man was an amazing doc, and it is, BUT the filmmakers completely skip how Rodriguez had successful tours of Australia and New Zealand in the late 70s, but the absence of this information implies he was already wallowing in obscurity in the U.S. It's a lie of omission, and I wish the producers had been talented enough to incorporate it into their narrative of Rodriguez' fascinating life.)
posted by zardoz at 6:38 PM on August 9, 2023 [10 favorites]

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posted by northtwilight at 7:11 PM on August 9, 2023

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posted by thivaia at 7:19 PM on August 9, 2023

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posted by ademack at 9:00 PM on August 9, 2023

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Treasure what you got,
Soon you may be caught
Without it.

Thanks for your time, Mr. Rodriguez. Your music will always be a blessing in my life.
posted by Lizard at 9:08 PM on August 9, 2023 [3 favorites]

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posted by riverlife at 11:32 PM on August 9, 2023

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posted by jzb at 11:52 PM on August 9, 2023

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posted by confluency at 12:21 AM on August 10, 2023

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posted by brujita at 3:32 AM on August 10, 2023

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posted by ceejaytee at 4:55 AM on August 10, 2023

successful tours of Australia and New Zealand in the late 70s

This ABC obit article provides some context for these tours.
posted by zamboni at 5:58 AM on August 10, 2023 [2 favorites]

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posted by adekllny at 6:23 AM on August 10, 2023

Watched the documentary Searching for Sugar Man, on a visit to S. Africa. It was amazing to to talk to folks who grew up with his music and thought of him the way people in the US and UK think of the Beatles. Everyone had his records in their collections and knew his songs.

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posted by evilDoug at 6:39 AM on August 10, 2023 [1 favorite]

What a special human he is, I have listened to the soundtrack to Searching for Sugar Man thousands of times!
posted by tarantula at 6:57 AM on August 10, 2023

My now ex and I saw the movie and then saw him live in Phoenix when he toured afterward. Was onstage with his kids. It was a wonderful show. RIP.
posted by simonelikenina at 7:19 AM on August 10, 2023 [1 favorite]

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posted by ivanthenotsoterrible at 7:33 AM on August 10, 2023

Really beautiful music.

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posted by BlahLaLa at 8:03 AM on August 10, 2023

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posted by SonInLawOfSam at 8:53 AM on August 10, 2023

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posted by AJaffe at 11:25 AM on August 10, 2023

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posted by mumimor at 12:07 PM on August 10, 2023

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posted by Orange Dinosaur Slide at 7:56 PM on August 10, 2023

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posted by bleston hamilton station at 11:12 PM on August 10, 2023

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posted by kitten kaboodle at 1:12 AM on August 11, 2023