Sixto Diaz Rodriguez, the iconic singer-songwriter renowned by his surname, has passed away at 81. Stephen ‘Sugar’ Segerman, curator of Rodriguez’s official blog and website, SugarMan.org, confirmed this news.
Rodriguez, celebrated for his hits like Sugar Man, released two albums in the early 1970s before fading from the music scene. However, his records experienced a meteoric rise in popularity, particularly in South Africa.
Rodriguez’s 81st birthday last month was marked by a gathering of fellow musicians in Detroit. His journey from relative obscurity to legendary status was artfully captured in the 2012 Oscar-winning documentary Searching for Sugarman.
The film brought to light Rodriguez’s unique story, revealing how his music reached a legendary folk-rock super stardom status in South Africa, unbeknownst to him. He gained newfound fame when two South African fans discovered he was still alive and brought him to the country in 1998 for a series of sold-out concerts.
Rodriguez’s 2013 tour in South Africa sold out within minutes, where he performed for over 40 000 Cape Town and Johannesburg fans. With his legacy intact, Rodriguez’s influence on the music world will continue to resonate for years to come.
Written by Jules Keohane for Cape Town ETC.
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Feature Image: Facebook / Rodriguez Music
