Film 'Searching for Sugar Man' Protagonist Rodriguez Passes Away
Workers and the Poor Sing in Detroit
Legendary Popularity in South Africa as a Message of Resistance
Sixto Rodriguez, the American singer who was the protagonist of the documentary film 'Searching for Sugar Man (2012),' passed away on the 9th (local time).
Rodriguez's official website announced in a statement that he passed away at the age of 81.
According to the AP News on the day, Rodriguez passed away at his home in Detroit, Michigan, after a brief illness. The exact cause of death has not been disclosed. He is survived by his wife Sandra and daughters Eva and Reagan.
Rodriguez was active in Detroit and sang about the homeless, workers, and the poor. Some even praised him as "surpassing Bob Dylan."
His two albums released in 1969 and 1971 sold very little in the United States but gained great popularity in South Africa on the other side of the globe through pirated copies. It is interpreted that Rodriguez's music, which contained messages of resistance against the regime, moved the hearts of South African youth suffering under apartheid (racial segregation policy). Many were curious about the singer's identity due to the lack of information, and two passionate fans embarked on a journey to find him. The documentary film 'Searching for Sugar Man' depicts this story.
Directed by Malik Bendjelloul, 'Searching for Sugar Man' won the Special Jury Prize and Audience Award at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival in the United States, and the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature in 2013.
A TV entertainment program inspired by this was also produced domestically under the title 'Sugar Man.'
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After gaining fame, Rodriguez performed on stages such as the Glastonbury Festival in the UK. He also ran for political office as a candidate for Detroit mayor, city council, and state senator.
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