Grew up in SA, listened to Cold Fact every day after school, knew every word to every song. So, so glad that this wonderful, humble, massively talented man has finally got the recognition he deserves.
Every time I listen to Cold Fact I’m still shocked that more people haven’t heard of this incredible artist’s music🤦♀️ I wish I had one word to describe what his music ( means to me-so powerful) but it’s worth so much more than just one word💙
now that's "A COLD FACT" I agree Chris.....a humble and gifted poet.....in our home here in Toronto....he's a prophet. When music can teach peace to the entire world, it truly is our universal language.
I just heard of him. Media Arts Major/school film. Interesting thou and a bit sad the Director to this documentary committed suicide right after he won the Oscar's. Very Sad. But Rodrigues is an unbelievable soul
yes .. somehow we got lucky .. rodriguez was huge here in australia and toured in the late 70's cause you could not go anywhere without hearing his music blasting out of a car stereo , every party and every house had a copy of cold fact and coming from reality leaning proudly against the wall... and yes we still listen to them today , they sound as fresh as ever...great songs, excellent arrangements, and his voice, the tone of this mans voice is unique and makes it all pure magic, it fits the songs so perfectly.... someone said he is the perfect amalgam of bob dylan and lou reed and thats a concrete cold fact
43 years later here he is.......70 years old, humble, no ego, he is a prophet I am so so proud of him...I loved working with him ....HE DESERVES ALL of this and MORE
I wept for joy for this man watching the documentary when I saw him finally rewarded for all his musical work. His humility and lack of bitterness is admirable! This story shows you how music is such a transcendent art form. Here was a young Mexican /American living in the inner city of Detroit writing music about his inner thoughts and struggles. But his music finds it way into South Africa on the other side of the world and strikes a chord of the youth in that land and gave them hope and joy! What a story!
Rodriguez's "Cold Fact" was hugely popular here in Australia in the 1970's. I cannot understand why this terribly talented man was so neglected in North America. Rodriguez was and is a brilliant musician and singer-songwriter with a great voice that is marvellously powerful but not harsh. His lyrics are intelligent and perceptive.
I’m from Detroit and just learned about him one day after his passing when a cool friend tagged me. Thankful he did. I’m so bummed I didn’t know of him. He got to meet him ten years ago -so lucky. This humble man was brilliant!❤
Being South African and having grown up with this music my whole life, I believe the person that requires more credit than any other (apart from Rodriguez himself), is Malik Bendjelloul. Sadly this man who spent over three exhausting years making the movie/documentary has not lived to see just how his efforts have continued to bless the lives of Rodriguez and many others around the globe.
I watched the (much-hyped) doco and thought the glaring omission of the fact that Sixto was immensely popular here in Australia AND New Zealand (from the get-go) was most remiss. I believe it would have detracted from a doco made BY SA's FOR SA's, (as simple as that), that's certainly how it came across. Stranger still was that Sixto had indeed toured here (Australia) on a couple of occasions before EVER touring South Africa (in '98) under the tour heading "Dead Men Don't Tour". And yes, I'm plenty old enough to have bought both of Sixto's studio albums at the time they were released, everyone I knew had them! Personally, I've never been without his beautiful music and am delighted to know he finally received his long overdue recognition.
@@rrr1063 Searching for Sugarman is about how SA found him and how he had no idea about that countries love of him. I don't see how previously touring in Australia changes any of that.
i "DISCOVERED" HIM IN 1981 AND STILL LISTEN TO HIM, WHAT A WONDERFUL GUY, HUMBLE AND SO GLAD THAT HE EVENTUALLY GOT THE RECOGNISION AS A SUPER ARTIST WHICH EVADED HIM FOR YEARS. SIXTO, ENJOY BROTHER, YOU DESERVE EVERY BIT OF IT
Perhaps the dreamiest day of my life was when I met this man, held his guitar, and ate lunch with him in LA. It was the strangest occurrence in my life, equally as beautiful. One of those hypothetical bucket list moments that seems unattainable. He is beautiful and blindly kind. He appreciated when I said his guitar was very light. He asked me what I did, and I told him I'm a writer. His advice was, "write a letter to God like King David." I also made a bucket of chai iced tea that he really enjoyed, kept asking for more. I still can't believe that day happened even as I write this. We talked about almost everything, and he described Bob Dylan perfectly. He said, "Everyone is a telephone booth. Talking into a phone and sending out a signal to someone on the other side. Bob Dylan is rare because he's the telephone. It all pours into him, and he decides what to say." The last thing he asked was for my friend and I to buy him two bottles of wine, but his manager desisted us. What a person he is.
@@DTM-Books Yes his lifeblood channels between words and music. He has a beautiful rhythm to himself that feels immortal. Extremely modest, too. Just a special person.
In Australia from1976 it was Bob Dylan Neil Young and Rodriguez. I was 17 in 1985 and Rodriguez and Bob Dylan and Neil Young were equal. We thought he was blind and dead but loved him. When I saw the movie Sugarman I watched 4 times in the weekend and cried every time.
In the documentary they only mention the record sales in Africa... We loved it in Australia too, we all knew the words and sang along. Gosh what an amazing story.
Beautiful, gracious, talented man. He says at one point, "I'm yours" with a little chuckle. Putting the interviewer at ease, making the connection. Full of wisdom, and yet just a regular guy. We, too, are yours, Sixto Rodriguez.
Never met this beautiful being in person but I can feel his inner beauty and I have to say he is so handsome. True magnificent inside and out, and gifted beyond words. Love you, Sixto💝💐
I listened to "Cause" today out of the blue. I also was and am a solo musician, I used to play on the streets of Portland everyday. I love that song for reasons I cannot fully explain. Thank you.
Not only is it so great to see that the effort was done to find this artist, but it is even more great that the artist turns out to be such a humble, sweet, giving and honorable man.
I like alot of other people got hooked on Rodriguez thanks to "Searching for Sugarman" and quite honestly he's a natural treasure and a tribute to those who never gave up their dream or compromised their views for the sake of a buck. To have a thriving career after 40 years of obscurity...you couldn't make this stuff up cos nobody'd believe you. Thank Christ that Rodriguez is FINALLY getting the accolades he so richly deserves.
Grew up with your music in S.A. Everyone I knew either had your Cold Fact cassette or album. Still have your album from the 70's. Cry when I listen to this story.
He was born in Detroit, Michigan, USA. He's of Mexican descent, a Mexican-American or sometimes called Chicano. And like everyone -- his DNA would probably reveal a variety of origins.
I'm in my 50s and I love the music of Rodriguez so much that he has become one of my all time favourites. I'm also so sure I herd Sixto Rodriguez in the mid 70s at collage because when I herd it on the T.V. program Sugar Man I knew it and was singing along to it. Hope to her you for many more years to come.
To find such a man in today's world is indeed life reaffirming. Saw him in concert in Birmingham this last Tuesday - memorable evening - exceeded expectations.
Have adored this amazing man and his extraordinary music since first hearing Cold Fact 40 odd years ago. Whilst we may have some folks in SA to thank for bringing the man and his music back, we Aussies were also huge fans in the day. I simply cannot comprehend such genius "slipping through the cracks" because his name is Hispanic. As previously noted, it didn't do Carlos Santana any harm. Sixto's "dilemma?" surely lay in the very lyrics he tried to get across to us ALL such a long time ago. Too political, too honest, too close to the bone? For some reason Australia and SA seemed to be more accepting of this beautiful man's views. Thankfully, the entire world is now able to share in some of the most brilliant lyrics ever penned, by anyone, period. IMHO.
Well if the polticial going ons of Trump building a wall for Mexico and the treatment and blame of hispanics can illustrate the racial issues still going on in America...
Being South African and having grown up with this music my whole life, I believe the person that requires more credit than any other (apart from Rodriguez himself), is Malik Bendjelloul. Sadly this man who spent over three exhausting years making the movie/documentary has not lived to see just how his efforts have continued to bless the lives of Rodriguez and many others around the globe.
It has nothing to do with him being Hispanic. You guys are creating something that doesn’t exist. The fact that his albums were released during the time of Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, KISS and a wide variety of rock and metal and glam has everything to do with it. Keep in mind, Rodriguez had a 60’s folk sound, which was past its peak.
Jim Kalfakis i’m not so quite sure about your comment. Jim Croce and John Denver were quite successful and popular in the early 70s during the time. They were a long way from being like Led Zeppelin yes they were very popular.
I hope the documentaries about Sixto Rodriguez start being shown on TV everywhere so that a new generation is acquainted with his remarkable story and his music. I found this interview very enriching, and found a man who was incredibly intellectual and well-spoken, reflective of the exquisite poetry of his music. The music business is crazy.
In 1970 I was 10 years old and we were listening to NON -BOOTLEG rodriguez.... we loved him then and it is so great to see him get the recognition we always thought he had.Now I understand why he never continued making records..... and I still can't believe he never made it BIG at the time. Thanks Sixto..... you have always been number one ... MAXIMUM respect to you!....
wow this is such RICH MAN in his Soul! and Humble, i m so glad i got to watch his Doc on the CBC. WHAT A STORY to be ever told, this should be a Movie,,,,,,about his life,,,,,,
Even with all the fame that came with his rediscovery he still stays quite mysterious and humble unknowingly in his answers. That's just just testament to his whole being, which is beautiful
I lived in Saginaw, Michigan, having graduated from H.S. in 1972. It is a shame that I never heard or learned of Sixto Rodriguez back then. But I am glad that his music was loved and appreciated in South Africa and now the world. He deserves all the praise. Any man who can still be so humble after having found the fame that alluded him in the 70's and is now traveling and playing around the world, warms the heart. What a great story!
An artist whit no other vision but his own, one that of love and growth thru pain and sorrow. Money has no value to him, love is his currency and I love him for that.
I watched the movie,I cried a silent tear, seeing this humble man in all his honesty. some of his songs are timeless,his lyrics are poetry from the heart. the man is an example.
Real life Fairytale imao! A legend. I been listening to this guy nearly 35 years and he still brings tears to my eyes. What a fantastic place South Africa was back then.
I was one who bought his Albums way back when. I had completely forgotten about him until the movie. What a tragedy really. When he could have lived a very comfortable life and helped his family so much as I'm sure he would have. And how different would the world have been if for those decades his songs were heard on the airwaves. how many people would have been affected one way or another by his music and what ripples in society would those effects have caused and what would those ripples have affected. It really is a tragedy.
The best part of the Rodriguez story and the great documentary is the fact that his music is actually really good ! I'd have bought his album if I'd heard it even if I didn't know of the film. I think his material is as good as anything from that time period, which happens to be an era when a LOT of great music was being made. Somehow his songs seem familiar even though I know I hadn't heard them.
"I was too disappointed to be disapointed" that the American music industry couldn't get enough of him. He is so raw, real and extremely relevant in today's world!!
Heard of him when I saw the documentary. Musically, I absolutely love this man! Thank you Rodriguez. I am thrilled that you finally are receiving the recognition you truly deserve.
I LOVED Rodriguez when I was in my 20's [I'm 60 now, & an Aussie in Brizzie .. I was in Melbourne in my 20's though] .. I had both of his Albums & listened to them OFTEN .. I was SO sad & shocked & could NOT believe that a man such as he would commit suicide!!! & I was RIGHT to not believe it .. Yey :o) :o) .. THANKs to him being his AWESOME self! I'm so VERY happy [I cry with joy @ times] that he's found the fame I believed he deserved way back then .. & it's even more awesome, & beautiful & touching that he's been an 'ordinary man' for all these years, & has finally been re-discovered - THANKS to the South African guys "Searching for Sugarman" I'm SO GLAD they did! & he still has the delightful humility & insight he's obviously had all along .. He STILL has IT, AND some! I MUCH prefer his voice in his own original songs, .. am not so keen on the new almost 'Tiny Tim' renditions of others songs .. just sayin' .. even though his song choices are delightful for their content :o) His own songs have GUTS, are SO STRONG, & REAL! I hope he writes LOTS more .. PLEASE DO Rodriquez!! :o)
I agree Ruan, this is a great interview, because he is gets Rodriguez talking about the crafts of writing and singing songs, not just about the events told in the movie like all the other interviews.
I loved watching the Sugar man documentary and it was so wonderful to see someone getting their chance to shine. Rodriguez' and his music are beautiful.
He really has a voice that lets you know that he is a straightforward and entirely decent fellow. Like Dylan's but without the cynical, sarcastic twang.
I had been listening to this amazing man for many years then he came to my home town in Australia. What a night we had! To see and hear the man who until then was an enigma was simply fantastic. Great to see others will now finally get to hear what he had to say.
in the 70s Rodriguez's vinyl albums (and cassettes) sold in South Africa and neighbouring Rhodesia. A lot of folks emigrated from those countries to Australia and elsewhere and I believe that that is how the music travelled originally.
Great Artist... amazing find for our world. Could not be a better time for our society to hear such a talented man! We in Canada are so proud of you Sixto! Love and Light Noella Oneness Canada
Just found out about this artist and his amazing story and musical career. He has a beautiful tranquil voice and presence. How symbolic that he worked in demolition. It seems he also broke down some walls with his words and music as well! :)
I only discovered him in 1978. Then I lost him. Next thing there was a poster advertise him to perform in our town hall. So I went to go and see a tribute show, after all, I knew Rodriguez was dead. Then this man steps on the stage. I still can not belief it......
What a wonderful, humble man! l'm so excited to be seeing him, here in Victoria on Saturday! Luv him even more after watching this!!! Thank you for uploading this!
He's so impressive - Bob Dylan Meets Jose Feliciano - I wonder how his fate would've been different if he'd been Black rather than Latino back in the 70s. I bought both his albums the moment Seaching For Sugarman credits rolled. He's sold out at the Royal Albert Hall within hours. Damnit!
Having been in many bands early on and seeing how the music industry really works, I can say it is very likely that racism probably played almost no role in Sixto not making it huge in 1970. It was almost certainly a lack of proper promotion combined with music industry corruption along with his label taking advantage of his situation, and some mis-management that caused his demise here in the US. Thank God we have him now...and really, maybe it's better to be comfortable later in life than to get it all early only to fall hard and end up poor at the end - which is typical of many artists.
Nick Gadler couldn’t have said it better. But he did live a hard hard life and I’m sure he and his kids did suffer because of it. Money is oxygen just like he said. And when you don’t have enough you are gasping. So glad he didn’t die before we found him. So thankful to the man to reached out and tracked him down. What a prophet Rodriguez is!
When you watch the documentary, you can see some awful grubby hands using his music as a personal ATM. It reminds me a bit of Badfinger - except they were renowned but still penniless.
