I literally just heard about this guy a couple of hours ago. I went on to listen to his music and wow... the fact that this guy wasn't more known in his era is insane.
@@howardblasingame7961he sold more records than Elvis in South Africa. If you saw the Doc they tried to “follow the money” and it just got syphoned into the big business at a huge record label. And last I checked, about 5 years ago when I saw the Doc, he was suing them for 25M in back royalties from the sales of his album. And that’s just his royalties from record sales. Imagine how much the whole kaboom was. And the big record company didn’t even notice or know they had a star on their hands!!
He was very popular on the east coast of Australia in the '70s. Also, It was an honour to meet him, when he came to the Byron Blues Festival, a few years back. He came into the Byron Music shop, where I worked, and bought a guitar lead and guitar strap, for the shows. So quiet and humble, like a dark angel had walked in....
How many people attend his Australian concerts? I still wonder why Rodriguez did not got more confidence from the Oz tours. Or why he did not realize there could be other remote countries appreciating good music. Did Rodriquez made money out of Oz, or was that money also stolen by Clarence Savant?
I grew up in Detroit and graduated in 1970. Listened to all the underground radio stations and never heard a song by Rodriguez. It wasn't until I saw Searching for Sugarman that I knew he even existed. I would have gone to see him play around Detroit, bought his albums in the 70s. People say what was wrong with Detroiters that they didn't embrace Rodriguez? Fact was he was never promoted or played.
i used to listen to CJOM in Windsor where i played Jr hockey and WABX in my hometown Detroit. There was a dj named Mark Parentau, who played a bunch of cool underground bands/artists, including Sixto Rodriguez. He interviewed mim once on each station. He oftenn referred to Him, as Detroits Bob Dylan. He is now Doing a Barry Gordie Howeb Town Gig, as a picker and restoror of Vintage D Tone Architechture, including salvaging of old Art deco pieces from Detroits Past. Cheers From SpoCanada.
Hey. Solid job man. Good job telling the story while keeping it entertaining. I'll be showing your video to others and I look forward to watching more.
It's not often that someone comes into your life that makes such a powerful impact. I actually heard and felt his soul through his poetry. Those producers stole more than just the royalties that were rightfully Sixto's. In my opinion the biggest treasure that they stole was his voice. Not just from him but from the rest of the world, shame on them.I just hope that others will discover and enjoy his music just as a lot of us have. He has inspired me to start writing again, I just wish I could personally thank him for what his writing has meant to me. But somehow I get the feeling that he already knows. Rest in Peace my Friend. Thank you for posting this, he deserves all of the praise and recognition he can get.
I find it outrageous that no one speaks of Sixto Rodriguez in the context of the Chicano movement in the US in exactly the city in which he lives in and the times when the movement began and also how it blends in simultaneously with the American Indian Movement [AIM] inexactly the SAME years at the intersection of the end of the '60's and the very early years of the 1970's.
Im 58 first song i found was halfway up the stairs at 14 every song Sixto has produced i relate too his music is superior i find bob dylan not authentic. Sixto was & always will be the ultimate musician for me R.I.P your gift to us is forever never to bw forgotten ♥️
I remember seen the album back in 1978 I was at high school.At that stage I had never heard any of the songs on cold fact or who Rodriguez was but in South Africa that album became hugely influential.
WTF! I'm no musician but I could imagine any already popular star being envious of this man and how his influence went under the American radar and on to influence an entire generation outside of our sight.
thats how many were sold after the music was bought by record labels, like I had said, the copies made before would've at least doubled those numbers if not more
I knew of some of the issues out in South Africa through history but I didnt know what an apartheid was and also that they were in one, I didnt know it was that bad
I really want to watch, "Searching for Sugar Man." But, The title is strange and "offensive?" in that in his (incredible!) song, "Sugar Man," is not Rodriguez, but his drug dealer and of a nebulous and dubious nature.
It is a shame that since he has becomeknown that the country and western versionof wonder has been taken down. If anyone reading this can repost it it would be great jk
I disagree with the narrator's premise that the artist was shunned due to anti-hispanic bias. Carlos Santana and Jose Feliciano were contemporary super stars.
I posed it as a possibility. obviously im biased because I love the artist and his music but in order to comprehend why he couldn't succeed even with all the things he needed (a label, solid promotion, lore, buzz in his hometown) I tried to pose another potential reason but you're right, its not a solid assumption to make
@@jamesdewayne Well put. I have a perspective of living through that period and I totally understand the concept of "Why not, Rodriguez?" It's weird. I know. He is an amazing, unique, haunting, genius. And authentic to the core. Thank you, James for putting his story out there. Well done!
@@user-ge7on8wy1o thank you! I probably should've added that I have family members who lived through that time (of Dominican descent) who gave me that idea as a possibility
@@jamesdewayne Wow! I've never had a content creator respond with such thoughtfulness and introspection! I absolutely will change my perspective on an issue with honest discussion. I've just subscribed! Keep up the great works and positivity!
fair enough fair enough. if there were any of his songs id say are recommendable to everyone, it's "I Think Of You" and "Street Boy" if you haven't heard those already!
Sad you needed to stop here and say that .. I'm guessing you stopped here for just that reason. Try listening to ... "Cause" ... it may just shed a dim light into your dark world. Cheerio.
He was just as huge during my 70's teen years in Western Australia. HUGE! Was lucky enough to see him live, 40 years too late, in kings park Perth wa. The only concert I've ever been to ❤
Awesome synopsis well done! I am from Johannesburg and was one of the few fortunate fans at his first concert in ‘98. For me & I believe others the energy in the venue was magical, spiritual and truly unforgettable.
He didnt start our revolution in South Africa. His music kept us motivated like all other music. Our plight was like that of Berlin. His music was part of a catalogue that we in South Africa listened to that exposed us to the rest of the world. At the time we thought we were alone and music like this exposed us to the fact that we weren't.
Yep, we just loved his music, like so many other artist. I don't know why they must always try and put their narrative, or politics into it. Maybe because the Americans are so hell bend in creating political heroes, they can not recognize good music.
Very well told and made. I love the whole "I don't like what you do, but I'm confused and alone about all the problems facing society.." spiel. Thats exactly what I got from the mans music. Climb up on my music an my songs will set you free. He inspired me to make my own songs Space Engineer(band) , Memory Trip (YT album) and many songs on Spotify etc.Thanks for making this. I enjoyed it greatly. Saw Rodriguez perform 5 times. The best being Sydney, Enmore Theatre (backed by Midnight Oil) I'm surprised he never wrote another song after making those 2, extraordinary albums.
James, brother. You did not lie in your advance hype for this video. I’m extremely motivated both by Rodrigues’ story AND by your insights into it. Thank you. What is real will prosper
What you got to hide? Seriously, I get what you are saying. Sometimes, late at night, early morning hours, I take solice knowing there is probably no one on the planet thinking about me at the exact moment. Don't know why but it's so satisfying.
Hi James thank you for the interesting background. Saw him perform in Newcastle Civic Centre in Australia and thought it was the best poetry I had heard. He told us he had completed his degree. An angel 4 sure 🎶💖🌸
Very, very, thought provoking and thoughtfully done. Just one small pushback: You overstate a little the effect Sixto had in the struggle against apartheid. Yes. He made a big difference to many young white mostly English South Africans in showing them something other than the puritanical culture forced on them. That was huge, and transformational. It made a difference. But South Africa was full of giants taking on apartheid through music and many other ways. Makeba, Masekela, Fassie, Biko, Sisulu, Tutu, Luthuli, Suzman -- and of course Mandela. But, that takes nothing away from the music, work and legacy of Sixto. I would mention one other man, and one worth comparing with Sixto: Johnny Clegg. If you honor one, you must honor the other.
I am an Afrikaans speaker and cannot claim that I was politically aware during the 70s and early 80s. In fact, I was never a political animal. Not even now that the ANC is doing everything to destroy SA short of putting a match to it. Yet I completely resonated with Sixto and Johnny Clegg, which just shows that they both had an ability to touch people across cultural and political divides.
@@johanweakley2658 Very well said. Johnny Clegg was much more of a uniter than one who one who confronted. He was also more cultural than political, especially in the beginning.
To think we grew up on his music while he was not known in his own country 44 years later his music still plays in my house. U missed a diamond while searching for a penny
Clarence Avant was a crook ! He took advantage of Sixto's greatness for his own reasons ,lied , stole and didn't promote his presence concentrating more on other artists like Dobie Gray .He stated that Rodriguez only sold " six albums!" with a weasely smirk on his con mans face 🤬😡😠💯 Finally Rodriguez got due with the release of "SUGARMAN" RIP MR. SIXTO RODRIGUEZ
Unless you've been living under a rock you've definitely heard about this guy. There was a major movie made about him that played in festivals all over the world. He was touted (erroneously) as being Bob Dylan before Bob Dylan. Thing is anyone afforded that much exposure that then fades back into obscurity in less than a decade is clearly not that important to most serious music fans. Never be sorry to tell the truth
Back during the troubled dark days of trump’s “American Carnage,” a friend suggested that I watch Finding Sugar Man, and I became obsessed with Rodriguez. His music really spoke to me, his story enthralled me, and most poignant of all, his humility touched me deeply. I feel the need to share him with as many people as possible, to increase his legacy and to pull the ignorant masses into shared purpose and appreciation. Thank you so much for this excellent video, I really loved it.
Trini Lopez was all over the radio... Carlos Santana! I think you're seeing what expect to see. A lot of very talented musicians don't ever achieve commercial success. And sadly, it too often that kind of success turns into a gilded cage.
I had heard of Sixto,:but his music didnt get the big push and Sussex didnt push it hard enough and they were a small label. And Clarence mqy have swindled him too. Never heard of his docu or how he was bigger overseas. Didn't know none of that. Lots of other bands record albums sink into obscurity and never get an Act 2. Sixto got both an Act 2 and 3, where he got to tour overseas. Which is kind of cool.
Sixto’s story was a beautiful reminder to me to not grow bitter if you don’t get exactly what you want out of life. Before he passed, you could catch him in Detroit record shops and he was delighted to speak to anyone about music for as long as they wanted. This man’s music and story has single handedly changed my life. Safe travels Sugar man ❤️
Sounds like he was someone who saw beyond the short term obsessions we humans tend to have. An outsider within his own society. Personal material gain seems to have meant very little to him. Money was just something you can use to help others.
"The Most Important Musician You've Never Heard Of" Yeah let's pretend that there wasn't a big ass academy award winning documentary about him over 10 years ago....
Thanks, I loved the documentary and love Rodriguez. He's part American Indian I suspect, and Mexican, beautiful combination. He's on the level of Dylan.
I am so very grateful to have seen "Searching for the Sugar Man" - a very moving documentary, which prompted me to fly to Seattle to see Rodriquez live. Brilliant concert in a small venue and one of my favorite highlights in life. Sixto was lovely, gentle, grateful, humble and a very talented man. I pray that the last few years of his life allowed him to see how much he was appreciated and loved. Fortunately, I live near Detroit and visit his neighborhood frequently....which he is honored by a huge mural....long live the spirt of the Sugar Man!
I think the moment he landed here in SA he realized he was bigger than he could ever dream of thinking a crowd of 50 will be there finding each show was sold out full staduims of thousands
You are making a lot of assumptions about a time period you weren't alive in. Carlos Santana was a huge rock star in the late sixties. Even Freddy Fender made it to number one on the country charts singing in Spanish. I think Rodriqeuz just fell through the cracks like Nick Drake and Big Star and any number of other good acts that didn't chart.
I grew up in South Africa and comparing us to Nazi Germany, making all those false claims, is absolute BS. Do proper research before you post on the WWW. And I do love the man - and have all his records on vinyl (the ones from the 70s.)
I have watched the documentary 3 times. They are critical of the political situation in the country at that time, but they do not make the harsh claims you do. Sincerely
He got betrayed by the system and those that wanted to go vs the system. Some Real tragedy for society a real poet and Artist - so glad he was appreciate it in South Africa
Funny that South Africans was blamed for our government's racism. But we listened to his music, and not the Americans. And then to top it all, an black American stole Rodriguez's money.
I heard "Coming From Reality" first .. didn't know anything about him, but was totally blown away. This was in 1973 in New Zealand, a friend of mine had a vinyl copy and it was a blast with everyone. "Climb up on my music" .. was the big grab your ears hit for most people. The whole album for me is a masterpiece of poetry and music. I was playing it in the car just today. I didn't get my own vinyl copy until early 80's, bought in Brisbane Australia, Rocking Horse records. We were lucky enough to get to see him in Wellington NZ before he passed away. What a wonderful concert it was. Total rapture from the audience. Thanks Sixto for your gift. RIP man. ♥
I saw Rodriguez Live in a small Bingo Hall Fortitude Valley Brisbane Australia in the mid 70's. He was not a well known / popular musician at the time and didn't get the recognition he deserved.
Most enjoyable docu video. Missed his show in JHB. Missed all his shows. But i do have both albums. Fact and After. Puts you into a different mood every time you hear it. I too cried when i saw the documentary of his first performance. What an awesome moment for EVERYONE just to be there. He didn't have to sing one word. And that was enough.. A true legend of a man.
