Inspired by the post on Detroit punk band Death, of whom the documentary A Band Called Death is about, heres another music documentary subject from Detroit who deserves appreciation. Sixto Rodriguez (usually known just as Rodriguez) had next to no success in America when he released two albums in the early 70s, but when a few copies made their way to South Africa, several of his songs became anti-Apartheid anthems, and the records were heavily pirated. South Africans held Rodriguez in such high regard that they spoke of him in the same sentence as artists like Bob Dylan and Cat Stevens. In the late 90s, after discovering (via the internet) that he was something of a folk hero in South Africa, he embarked on a tour of the country, playing to thousands in arenas every night. Rodriguezs story, and his popularity in South Africa, is documented in the film Searching for Sugar Man, which is easily one of the best music documentaries of all time (in my opinion).
Posted on: Tue, 09 Sep 2014 04:01:48 +0000