Sixto Diaz Rodriguez, better known by his stage name Rodriguez, is an American singer-songwriter who, despite being little known in his native United States, has achieved unexpected fame and success overseas.
Rodriguez recorded two studio albums in the early 1970s- The Cold Facts 1970 and From reality in 1971. However, his music failed to gain much attention or recognition in the United States, and he largely disappeared from the public eye.
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- Full name: Sixto Diaz Rodriguez
- Stage name: Sixto Rodriguez
- Date of birth: July 10, 1942
- Date of death: August 8, 2023
- Age: 81
- Birthplace: Detroit, Michigan, USA
- Country: United States
- Occupation: Musician
- Height: Unknown
- Parents: Maria Rodriguez and Ramon Rodriguez
- Siblings: Unknown
- Spouse: Connie Rodriguez
- Children: Eva Rodriguez, Reagan Rodriguez, Sandra Rodriguez-Kennedy
- Relationship: Married
- Net worth: $5 million
Early life and education
Sixto Diaz Rodriguez was born on July 10, 1942, in Detroit, Michigan, United States. His mother, Maria Rodriguez, died when he was a child. His father, Ramon Rodriguez, was a laborer and later a foreman in a steel mill. Details about the brothers and sisters that Rodriguez may have had are not known.
Rodriguez received a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from Wayne State University’s Monteith College in 1981 and continued to teach for many years. In 2013, the university awarded him an honorary doctorate.
Profession
Sixto Rodriguez’s musical career is a fascinating story of his unexpected rise to fame and rediscovery. Born in Detroit, Rodriguez began his musical journey in the 1960s, drawing inspiration from folk, rock, and social issues. He released two albums, The Cold Facts (1970) From reality (1971), but failed to gain wide recognition in its home country.
Rodriguez retired from the music industry in the mid-1970s, believing his career had stagnated. Unbeknownst to him, his music had a devoted following in South Africa, and his fans were unaware of his relative obscurity in the United States.
In the late 1990s, a group of South African admirers began exploring the story of this enigmatic musician, culminating in a critically acclaimed documentary. Finding Sugar Man (2012), which won an Oscar.
The success of the documentary brought Rodriguez renewed attention in the United States, and his popularity soared in his later years. He began performing internationally, touring Australia and South Africa, where he received enthusiastic acclaim.
Remarkably, despite his fame, Rodriguez continued to maintain a blue-collar life in Detroit, embracing an unexpected turn in his career.
Social Media
- Instagram account: @sixtomagic
Personal life
Famous American singer-songwriter Sisto Rodriguez died on August 8, 2023 in Detroit at the age of 81. Rodriguez was married to Connie Rodriguez throughout his life, from 1984 until his death.
Sixto and Konny Rodriguez had three daughters: Eva Rodriguez, Regan Rodriguez, and Sandra Rodriguez-Kennedy. Unfortunately, Rodriguez became blind later in life, but his family stayed by his side during this difficult time.
Discography
- The Cold Facts (1970)
- From reality (1971)
- afterwards (1976)
- Do your best (1977)
- live (1981)
- Rodriguez’s best work (1982)
- Facts of life (1998)
- All the facts (2004)
- Sugar Man: Rodriguez’s Best Work (2005)
- Finding Sugar Man (2012)
net worth
Sixto Rodriguez was a talented but long-overlooked musician who left behind an impressive net worth when he died in 2023, estimated to be around $5 million.
Rodriguez’s financial success has been helped by renewed interest in his music following the release of a critically acclaimed documentary Finding Sugar Man In 2012.
