The Enigmatic Story of Sixto Rodriguez who Disappeared and Reappeared
The Enigmatic Story of Sixto Rodriguez who Disappeared and Reappeared
Updated on August 12, 2023 10:38 AM by Andrew Koschiev
Introduction
Do you guys know about Sixto Rodriguez who was a popular singer and songwriter and made two music albums in the early 1970s but then he disappeared from the face of earth for decades? Whose music was much popular in South Africa and he was known as one the most popular musical heroes and his story was rediscovered and documented in the awesome film Searching for Sugar Man which brought him back to the eyes of those who didn’t know him and this film led him to millions of fans. Let’s talk about him today, his music journey, his enigmatic life, his cultural influence and remember him as one of his big fans.
Biographical Overview of Rodriguez
He was born in Detroit in 1942 and his parents were Mexican Immigrants but he grew up in a poor childhood and later he developed a passion for music at a young age. He knew how to play guitar so he started performing in bars and clubs of the city and later on he wrote his own songs by being influenced by folk, blues and rock n rolls artists. His first album Cold Fact was released in 1970 after he signed with Sussex Records in 1969 and then another album came out in 1971 with name Coming From Reality and the fact is that both the albums were awesome but didn’t sell well in the US and later on he quit the music industry for good.Add Block
His Unknown Disappearance
Rodriguez spent a normal life in Detroit where he worked as a laborer, a factory and construction worker and he also earned a degree in philosophy and ran for political office many times. He was never aware of the fact that his songs got him millions of fans in South Africa where his songs became anthems and inspired many young fans who were sad because of the racist regime. His albums sold thousands of copies but he never received any recognitions and there were also rumors that he committed suicide or died because of drug overdose and it left many fans thinking what really happened to him and they also tried to find out but all in no vain.
His Rediscovery
His two South African fans decided to investigate the matter themselves so they began to search for clues online and contacted many people who had worked with him in the past and eventually they found out that he was alive and living in Detroit. Later, the two fans contacted him and made him travel to South Africa in 1998 and he was surprised when he found out he had millions of fans who did not know that he was alive. Then the documentary Searching for Sugar Man came out in 2012 explaining all about his story and the film won numerous awards. If we talk about his music legacy, the songs are full of poetic lyrics and some of his famous songs entered the charts in many countries and his albums were reissued over the years and many artists also sampled and covered them.
His Shocking Death
Then came a period where he hit a stroke and stopped performing and singing and it was the moment which made everyone sad and when his death was announced on his official website, the fans cried their hearts out and it was a shock for everybody. His story is unforgettable and his journey to fame was unbelievable which few artists had ever experienced and he indeed touched the hearts and minds of many.
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