Rodriguez, Obscure Rocker Rediscovered by ‘Searching for Sugar Man,’ Dead at 81

RIP. Four videos embedded.

https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/rodriguez-searching-for-sugar-man-rocker-dead-obit-1234803231/

Rodriguez’s death was announced Wednesday on his official website. “It is with great sadness that we at Sugarman.org announce that Sixto Diaz Rodriguez has passed away earlier today,” the statement read. No cause of death was provided, but Rodriguez reportedly dealt with health issues in recent years.

Rodriguez only released two studio albums: 1970’s Cold Fact and 1971’s Coming From Reality. They made almost no impact when they were released in America, but became enormously popular in Australia and South Africa in the latter part of the decade. He came to Australia in 1979 and 1981 for concerts where he was treated like a God, sharing a bill with megastars Midnight Oil at one point.

The rest of the world learned the Rodriguez story in 2012 when Swedish director Malik Bendjelloul released Searching for Sugar Man, a documentary that told his story largely from the perspective of the South African fans who kept his music alive and found him in America despite a persistent urban legend that he was dead. The unique framing device captivated audiences and critics. (It was criticized, however, for failing to tell the story of his Australian revival.)