Rodriguez ‘Sugar Man’ Cause of Death: How Did He Die?
Sixto Rodriguez, also known as Rodriguez Sugarman, is a singer-songwriter from Detroit who gained international fame after the release of the 2012 documentary “Searching for Sugar Man”.
The documentary tells the story of how Rodriguez’s two albums, released on the LA-based label Sussex Records in 1970 and 1971, found their way to South Africa as imports long after the US versions had been deleted.
Rodriguez’s music became incredibly popular in South Africa, where he was seen as a symbol of resistance against apartheid.
Despite his popularity in South Africa, Rodriguez remained relatively unknown in the United States.
In the 1990s, a group of determined South African fans managed to find and contact Rodriguez, which led to an unexpected revival of his musical career.
The documentary “Searching for Sugar Man” documents the efforts of two Cape Town fans to track Rodriguez down.
He is, of course, not dead, just living quietly in the Detroit area, where he’s probably the only resident without a cell phone or an internet connection.
Rodriguez’s music is known for its bleak and haunting lyrics, often dealing with themes of addiction and despair.
His signature song, “Sugar Man,” is a tale about being in the throes of addiction, with the “Sugar Man” representing a false friend who will turn your heart to dead black coal.”
In recent years, Rodriguez received numerous honors and accolades for his music.
In May 2013, he received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from his alma mater, Wayne State University, in Detroit.
Despite his newfound fame, Rodriguez has remained humble and indifferent to the symbols of success.
However, he did file a lawsuit in 2013 alleging that he had been cheated out of royalties over the years, specifically by Clarence Avant.
The legal issues surrounding the lawsuit are complicated and still under investigation.
Rodriguez cause of death
On Wednesday, August 9, The Guardian reported that Rodriguez has died at 81.
The publication reported that the news of his passing was announced on his official site with his cause of death unknown.
“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 was 81 years old. May His Dear Soul Rest In Peace,” the statement read.
Rodriguez career
Rodriguez had struggled to sell many copies of his first two albums in the US in the 1970s and so quit to take on manual work.
However, his music gained popularity elsewhere in places such as Botswana, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand.
His cult popularity in Australia led to a 1979 tour of the continent while in South Africa, a compilation album went platinum as a rumour started that he had killed himself.
It wasn’t until 1997 that Rodriguez discovered his fame in South Africa after his daughter found information online.
He then went on tour in the country.
Further fame followed when his song Sugar Man was covered by Paolo Nutini and South African band Just Jinger. The original song was also sampled by Nas.
His life became the subject of the 2012 documentary Searching for Sugar Man, which premiered at the Sundance film festival to acclaim.
It won the Oscar for best documentary in the following year.
Directed by Swedish film-maker Malik Bendjelloul, it charts his life and the search for him. After its success, Rodriguez’s albums entered the US charts for the first time.
“It’s been a great odyssey. All those years, you know, I always considered myself a musician. But, reality happened,” Rodriguez said in a 2008 interview with the Detroit News.
