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 ❤
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!!
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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 🎶💖🌸
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.
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.
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
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.
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 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.
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 ♥️
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
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 ❤️
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.
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
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.
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
"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....
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
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.
Who else came here after watching Joe Rogan? A lot of music never see the sunlight due to poor promotion and marketing. Sixto's music is deep, soulful, and meaningful, with striking lyrics, excellent timing and rhythm, and clean powerful vocals. I don't believe the reason he didn't get airplay was due to being Hispanic, because how do you explain Carlos Santana or Jose Feliciano? If he had a better producer and good promotor, I have no doubt he would have been a household name. If you listen to Bruce Springsteen's early stuff, it's really had to listen to. But it wasn't until he was paired with Jon Landau to produce and shape his music that helped him to gain acceptance.
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
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
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 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!
The narrator comments that this is the first time he's heard the term, "Apartheid." He describes it as a "monstrosity." He doesn't discuss the fact that post-Apartheid South Africa is one of the most dangerous countries on earth and bordering on a failed state.
I know the meaning behind the word but hadn't ever heard the actual term, just what happened under an "apartheid" (i.e. segregation) - I did mention how it wasn't "better" after. I just didnt feel like a full historical explanation would add more to the music story aspect and didnt want to enter a territory I wasn't fully educated in
@@jamesdewayne Fair point. I didn't find the "wasn't better after" comment. I did thoroughly enjoy this video, however, and was deeply engrossed in the storyline and narrative. Being a history major, the Apartheid aspect, I felt was debatable, but I agree that delving too much into it would have been a distraction from Rodriguez' amazing tale.
@@user-ge7on8wy1o totally understand. I did get all the info from the documentary and now hearing peoples accounts and personal research I realize there is some flaw and misconstruing from the documentary makers
So none of you ever hear of the Oscar winning documentary Searching for Sugarman? Also he didnt "start" a revolution in South Africa, he merely helped keep the anti apartheid movement inspired through his music, which the government had banned. Its not as if Joe Rogan or you found this info out by yourselves.
I talk about the documentary throughout the entire video, it was the basis of the video and how I found Rodriguez in the first place. and yes I clarify the revolution part in the video, the intro is just meant to be attention grabbing lol
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!
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 ❤
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.
The music biz, was and ezz, about the Benjamin. Sixto did not dance to their tune.
@@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!!
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.
You missed a gem
@@robertgreeffgreeff8212 The world missed out.
Find that documentary and enjoy it! Searching for Sugarman.
Rip rodriguez.. i am a big fan for years now.. rodriguez is a great singer..
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.
no way thats insane !! I can't even imagine what that was like. and thank u so much I hope I did it justice
Thank you 😊
Greetings from Cape Town South Africa 🇿🇦 ❤
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
Never is late to recognize a great Artist
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.
eddie grant, pink floyd, etc etc good times
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.
Thank you for highlighting this lost artist. His music still rings true today. ❤
“What is real will prosper” you knocked this out the park - just learned about Sixto - may he RIP
Nice documentary & a credit to Sixto.
Sugar man cold writing 2fire 4 the untrained mind. Slick Rick keep doing your thing. ☝🏻
Well done James! Highly recommend this insane story of Sixto Rodriguez 🔥🔥🔥
Well done my friend. Excellent research. Thank you for sharing a hidden gem.
I have numerous Sixto songs in my playlist.
Thanks for make this video!!! Hugs from Madrid, Spain!!!! Gracias!!!
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 good narrations, Rodriquez has a new fan!
Thank you for telling and sharing the story of a very special artist.
Rest in peace, Sixto Rodriguez.
🙏😪 can’t believe this
Very sad news for the world today
RIP Mr Rodriguez
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.
🙏🙏🙏
I came by this music by someone as real and extraordinary as Sixto.
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.
thank you so much that means the world !
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
Great job!!
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.
Beautiful video man, Rodriguez is a true LEGEND.
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.
Super great documentary.Thanks
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 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.
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.
Thanks man I will not forget your video!
I remember when a Swedish director made a movie about him called sugar man around 15, 16 don't remember. Of course and I listen to this legend
Great video, thanks for sharing
thank U!
Thank you for the story zSir.🎉
I've loved Sixto Rodriguez for 40 years. Thank you for video. ❤
Fantastic video man well done all around keep it up!
appreciate that :)
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 ♥️
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
im so mad he didnt blow up in the US, we really did miss an absolute gem 😭
Nice, I checked it out
thank u !!
amazing video about an amazing story
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 ❤️
Watch the documentary Searching for Sugar Man. I have been a fan for decades - amazing musician, and lyrist and human being.
Thank you for this.
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.
BANGER
It was not only in SA this story reverberated in NZ as well I grew up with Rod riguez . part of the fabric
500 000 copies? no way...at least a few million. I had a copy too. Every household had a copy. If you could hear, you had his record.
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
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.
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
It’s amazing but the problem is that no radio play killed it!
omg that was good
"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....
🤓👆
Bro amazing job like and sub . 👍
thank u!!
I get more Dillon vibes from most of his music
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
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.
yeah I agree because no one referred to him as sugar man in south africa to my knowledge ? I guess its just a more interesting title 🤷♂
Searching for sugarman cooked the narrative. Rodriguez toured after the albums He wasn’t successful the returned to a normal life well normal for him.
Who else came here after watching Joe Rogan? A lot of music never see the sunlight due to poor promotion and marketing. Sixto's music is deep, soulful, and meaningful, with striking lyrics, excellent timing and rhythm, and clean powerful vocals. I don't believe the reason he didn't get airplay was due to being Hispanic, because how do you explain Carlos Santana or Jose Feliciano? If he had a better producer and good promotor, I have no doubt he would have been a household name. If you listen to Bruce Springsteen's early stuff, it's really had to listen to. But it wasn't until he was paired with Jon Landau to produce and shape his music that helped him to gain acceptance.
I’ve been a sixto fan 3 decades before Joe Rogan
No, I came by the music in my own life My extraordinary life.
Sounds like he wouldn't play ball with team dark
I wonder
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
Is that what happened?
Wait…..you’ve seriously never heard of the apartheid?!?
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
NZ. The man was so popular, just got sick of the state of the industry I guess.
...you never heard of "Apartheid"?
not the term itself no, I didnt pay attention in school lol
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.
well i had a lot of help from my grandparents who lived in this time period 🤷♂
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!
@@user-ge7on8wy1o thats what its all about! I love talking to anyone who will listen lol. I appreciate that a lot 🙌
PLEASE get real !!
The narrator comments that this is the first time he's heard the term, "Apartheid." He describes it as a "monstrosity." He doesn't discuss the fact that post-Apartheid South Africa is one of the most dangerous countries on earth and bordering on a failed state.
I know the meaning behind the word but hadn't ever heard the actual term, just what happened under an "apartheid" (i.e. segregation) - I did mention how it wasn't "better" after. I just didnt feel like a full historical explanation would add more to the music story aspect and didnt want to enter a territory I wasn't fully educated in
@@jamesdewayne Fair point. I didn't find the "wasn't better after" comment. I did thoroughly enjoy this video, however, and was deeply engrossed in the storyline and narrative. Being a history major, the Apartheid aspect, I felt was debatable, but I agree that delving too much into it would have been a distraction from Rodriguez' amazing tale.
@@user-ge7on8wy1o totally understand. I did get all the info from the documentary and now hearing peoples accounts and personal research I realize there is some flaw and misconstruing from the documentary makers
So none of you ever hear of the Oscar winning documentary Searching for Sugarman? Also he didnt "start" a revolution in South Africa, he merely helped keep the anti apartheid movement inspired through his music, which the government had banned.
Its not as if Joe Rogan or you found this info out by yourselves.
I talk about the documentary throughout the entire video, it was the basis of the video and how I found Rodriguez in the first place. and yes I clarify the revolution part in the video, the intro is just meant to be attention grabbing lol
His music is really just not that appealing & listenable to me, sorry.
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!
This is silly and the music isn't all that great
@james . you urged my like
The thing that saddens me is that he only made 2 albums, they're great and its just not enough