Renowned singer and songwriter Sixto Rodriguez, known as the subject of the award-winning documentary Searching for Sugar Man, has passed away at the age of 81. The news of Rodriguez’s demise was shared on the Sugarman.org website and confirmed by his granddaughter, Amanda Kennedy. His wife, Konny Rodriguez, 72, revealed that he had been suffering from a brief illness. Often referred to as “the greatest protest singer and songwriter that most people never heard of,” Rodriguez left an indelible mark on the music industry.
Although Rodriguez’s albums failed to gain traction in the US during the 1970s, he later emerged as a star in South Africa, where his songs, which protested against the Vietnam War, racial inequality, and female abuse, resonated with white liberals appalled by the country’s oppressive racial segregation system of apartheid. Malik Bendjelloul’s documentary Searching for Sugar Man introduced Rodriguez to a wider audience and narrated the story of two South Africans on a quest to uncover the fate of their musical idol. The riveting film won an Academy Award for best documentary in 2013.
Although Rodriguez resided in Detroit as his popularity surged in South Africa, his fans mistakenly believed that he was equally famous in the US. In reality, Rodriguez returned to manual labor to support his family after his music career dwindled and even embarked on unsuccessful political campaigns. Nevertheless, he continued to pursue his passion for music, steadfast in his belief that everyone has a purpose and obligations in life, despite its unpredictable nature. “I felt I was ready for the world, but the world wasn’t ready for me. I feel we all have a mission—we have obligations. Those turns on the journey, different twists—life is not linear,” Rodriguez once said. His legacy and impact on the music industry will forever be remembered. (Read more obituary stories.)
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