Obit: Rodriguez (1942-2023)

Subject: Obit: Rodriguez - July 1942 - Aug 2023
From: Helen
Date: 09 Aug 23 - 04:29 PM

Rodriguez, subject of Searching for Sugar Man documentary, dies at 81
The singer died in Detroit after a short illness, according to his family.

Australia was early in embracing Rodriguez, a talent chewed up by the music industry


I watched the Searching for Sugar Man documentary a few years ago. I never knew that he was ripped off for his royalties and that he didn't even know how big his music was in Australia or South Africa.

I heard a song a week ago on a music system when I was out somewhere. It was a rap song or similar, but it sampled the Sugar Man song. I don't know who the performer was.

One of my flatmates had the Rodriguez Cold Fact record back in the '70's so I heard it a lot.

Subject: RE: Obit: Rodriguez - July 1942 - Aug 2023
From: Jason Xion Wang
Date: 09 Aug 23 - 11:15 PM

His debut album was very very good. It's a pity that he didn't write any new songs after being rediscovered. May he rest in peace.

Subject: RE: Obit: Rodriguez - July 1942 - Aug 2023
From: JennieG
Date: 10 Aug 23 - 03:20 AM

Helen, I saw that doco too - I had never heard of Rodriguez until then. A friend who grew up in Zimbabwe knew of him, and saw him perform when he visited Oz. She said he was huge over there.

Subject: RE: Obit: Rodriguez - July 1942 - Aug 2023
From: Helen
Date: 11 Aug 23 - 05:51 AM

Hi Jennie, I thought he was huge here too, but maybe in the U.S. he is relatively unknown.

Subject: Obit: 'Rodriguez' RIP
From: meself
Date: 11 Aug 23 - 11:14 AM

'Rodriguez', best known perhaps as the subject of the documentary, 'Searching for Sugarman', has died.

Subject: RE: Obit: Rodriguez - July 1942 - Aug 2023
From: meself
Date: 11 Aug 23 - 11:17 AM

Not sure where 'here' is - but I think it's safe to say that in the U.S. he was completely unknown until the documentary came out, and then he became somewhat known.

Subject: RE: Obit: Rodriguez - July 1942 - Aug 2023
From: Helen
Date: 11 Aug 23 - 02:29 PM

Sorry for being vague, meself. Here is Australia. :-D

Subject: RE: Obit: Rodriguez - July 1942 - Aug 2023
From: GUEST
Date: 12 Aug 23 - 04:33 PM

I hope there were some high quality recordings of his 1979 Australia tour. The "Alive" LP was not so satisfying in quality. The 1998 SA live album was great though.

Subject: RE: Obit: Rodriguez - July 1942 - Aug 2023
From: FreddyHeadey
Date: 15 Aug 23 - 05:33 PM

Excellent programme; The story leading up to Rodriguez's sell out tour of South Africa and the film Searching for Sugar Man. Interviews with Stephen "Sugar" Segerman and Craig Bartholomew Strydom, Rodriguez & his daughters & some good music clips.

My hunt for Rodriguez, a missing music legend
Outlook - BBC World Service - 2022

Sixto Rodriguez
For many years he was unknown in the USA but a household name in 1970s South Africa where his anti-establishment song lyrics resonated with many of those opposed to the strict apartheid state.
One of those South African fans who adored him was Stephen 'Sugar' Segerman, a Cape Town record shop owner; his nickname came from the song Sugar Man by Rodriguez.

Producer: Emily Webb and Emily Naylor
41 minutes
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w3ct34wg