'Sugar Man' musician, Columbia visitor Sixto Rodriguez has died. He was 81.
Sixto Rodriguez — the lost, then found musician at the heart of the documentary "Searching for Sugar Man" — has died at age 81, his website reports.
Although a Detroit native, the performer who professionally went by Rodriguez held significance here in Columbia. "Searching for Sugar Man" screened at the 2012 True/False Film Fest and then, after local viewers felt immersed in his story, Rodriguez was booked to play that year's Roots N Blues festival.
An Oscar winner for best documentary feature, "Sugar Man" details the detective work of two South African Rodriguez fans trying to ascertain what happened to the musician who released a pair of seminal records in 1970 and 1971, then seemed to disappear from the face of the Earth.
Their pursuit, and rediscovery, of Rodriguez provoked audible gasps from True/False crowds, one example of what has now become a signature reaction to festival films.
Talking with the Tribune ahead of his Roots N Blues set, Rodriguez noted that fresh reaction from audiences to then 40-year-old songs made each moment of his second chance quite special.
"Each last night is the best night," he said.
A certain sadness already surrounds "Searching for Sugar Man" — director Malik Bendjelloul took his life not long after the film's breakthrough, in 2014.
"Searching for Sugar Man" is currently available to stream through Max, Amazon Prime and Apple TV.
Aarik Danielsen is the features and culture editor for the Tribune. Contact him at adanielsen@columbiatribune.com or by calling 573-815-1731. He's on Twitter @aarikdanielsen.
This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Sixto Rodriguez, musician behind 'Sugar Man' story, dies at 81
