Legendary singer-songwriter Sixto Rodriguez has died at the age of 81.
The musician is said to have been ill in the months before his death after suffering a stroke. His death was confirmed in a statement shared on his website.
It read: “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.”
Rodriguez, who was the subject of 2012 Academy Award-winning documentary Searching for Sugar Man, launched his music career in 1967, performing in bars and clubs around Detroit in the United States.
His first two studio albums Cold Fact and Coming From Reality went relatively unnoticed in America, but he found huge success overseas. In South Africa, he is believed to have sold more records than Elvis Presley.
was lucky to see him live at the @RoyalAlbertHall a few years ago. I’d say most of the audience including myself were in tears by the end . What a beautifully unique soul. Sail on Sixto Diaz Rodriguez X pic.twitter.com/x8emo7HqW4
— simone marie (@simonemarie4) August 9, 2023
According to Rodriguez’s daughter, Sandra, he died on Tuesday night.
Stephen “Sugar” Segerman, who runs Rodriguez’s blog, said the singer celebrated his 81st birthday last month with a gathering of his fellow musicians and “wasn’t in great shape” prior to his death.
RIP Sixto Rodriguez aka Sugar Man 🙏🏼❤️
— The Kiffness (@TheKiffness) August 9, 2023
A legend with the most amazing life story. In the US he lived in relative obscurity, but was hugely popular in here South Africa without him ever knowing until much later on.
We will never witness a story like his in our lifetime again. pic.twitter.com/Q8QO8wcdKY
Paying tribute to the late star, musician The Kiffness took to X, formerly known as Twitter, where they wrote: “A legend with the most amazing life story. In the US he lived in relative obscurity, but was hugely popular in here South Africa without him ever knowing until much later on. We will never witness a story like his in our lifetime again.”
Primal Scream bassist Simone Marie Butler penned: “[I] was lucky to see him live at the Royal Albert Hall a few years ago. I’d say most of the audience including myself were in tears by the end. What a beautifully unique soul.”
