I think of Rodriguez

About a year and a half ago my mom, pictured below, got all hot and bothered over this "new" artist that she and my aunt had discovered: Sixto Rodriguez. Born in 1972 in Detroit, Rodriguez is an old-time folk singer who, at first listen, can be described as somewhat Dylanesque. 

But, if given the chance, you'll quickly realize he's so much more.  

My aunt was not the only person on the path to discovery, it seems, when it comes to Rodriguez. He went "missing" shortly after the release of his second album in the early seventies and, unbeknownst to him, a search party had been looking for him ever since. And then there were rumours... that he had shot or burned himself on stage, for example. 

The reason people were looking for Rodriguez, or Searching for Sugar Man, is because he was famous (more famous than the Rolling Stones) on the other side of the world; in South Africa.

A group of music lovers/journalists had gotten together there to try and track him down. They had nothing to go on other than the two records he had released. They studied the pictures. They studied the lyrics. They put his face on a milk carton. They created a website: SugarMan.org.

In the end, they found Rodriguez. He was still living in Detroit, had spent most of his life working as a heavy labourer and had three daughters.

And he had no idea that anybody was still listening to his music. Never mind the fact that he was literally the most popular artist in South Africa with millions of albums sold there.

I discovered Rodriguez through my mom as well as the Academy Award winning documentary I watched with the beau about him last week; Searching for Sugar Man. Though I enjoyed his music previously, it wasn't until I saw the documentary and realized what kind of man Rodriguez was that I came to adore both him and his music.

An angel if there ever was one. 

And what a lyricist! 

I Think of You

Cause

I'll Slip Away

Cause

Cause I lost my job two weeks before Christmas

And I talked to Jesus at the Sewer

And the pope said it was none of his god-damned business

While the rain drank champagne 

My Estonian archangel came and got me wasted

Cause the sweetest kiss I ever got is the one I've never tasted

Oh but they'll take their bonus pay to Molly McDonald

Neon ladies, beauty is that which obeys, is bought or borrowed