This week, the world bids farewell to Sixto Rodriguez. The street poet and musician, whose life story was masterfully portrayed in one of the finest documentaries, has passed away at the age of 81.
The majority of the global audience became acquainted with the music of Sixto Rodriguez through the director Malik Benjelloul and the documentary “Searching for Sugar Man”. This musician, who remained largely unknown in the United States, achieved superstar status in South Africa. Astonishingly, Sixto himself remained unaware of this phenomenon. Were it not for the passionate fans of his music from South Africa, his work might have remained unheard. The film chronicles the dedicated efforts of Steven “Sugar” Segerman and Craig Bartholomew Strydom as they embark on a journey to unravel the mysteries surrounding the musician’s fate and find out whether the rumours that he died are true.
The film revitalized Sixto Rodriguez’s career, prompting him to transition from a construction worker to a touring musician across South Africa and Europe. Despite earning substantial amounts from his tours, he remained dedicated to a modest lifestyle. He chose to remain in the same house he had occupied for four decades, with no car, television, or computer.
His songs are a blend of melodious tunes and profound emotion, while his lyrics are those of a street poet. Many of his contemporaries likened his style to that of the renowned Bob Dylan.
Sixto Rodriguez had two albums to his name: “Cold Fact”, unveiled in 1970, and “Coming from Reality,” presented to the world in 1971. Following the documentary’s release, rumours swirled that he was in the process of crafting a new album, yet, regrettably, this album never saw the light of day.
