Sixto Rodriguez, the singer whose career was chronicled (and revived) thanks to documentary Searching for Sugar Man, has died at age 81. The news came via his official website: “It is with great sadness that we at Sugarman.org announce that Sixto Diaz Rodriguez has passed away earlier today. We extend our most heartfelt condolences to his daughters – Sandra, Eva and Regan – and to all his family.”
Born in Detroit in 1942, Rodriguez released two albums in the early ’70s that went all but unnoticed in his home country but gained popularity in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and other countries. When a documentary about him, Searching for Sugar Man, was released in 2012 it once again thrust him into the spotlight with reissues of his early work, sold-out North American tours and a Best Documentary Oscar for the film.
Rest easy, Sixto.
