Born in Detroit to Mexican immigrant parents, Rodriguez – whose stage name is simply “Rodriguez” – was a folk-rock singer and songwriter who got a major-label deal during the twilight of the Golden Age of Hippies.In 1970, Rodriguez put out an album called “Cold Fact,” co-produced by legendary Detroit session man Dennis Coffey. The following year, Rodriguez released “Coming from Reality.”
These records didn’t sell.
By the mid-’70s, Rodriguez had dropped out of the music business. But in a quirk of fate, his two LPs started getting radio play in South Africa, Rhodesia, Australia and New Zealand.
Rodriguez’s music got so popular, he toured Australia in 1979 and 1981.
It wasn’t until 1998 that Rodriguez discovered how huge he was in South Africa. He has been touring overseas ever since.
Meanwhile, in 2002, an Irish DJ named David Holmes stumbled upon the “Cold Fact” LP in a New York record store. Holmes put the track “Sugar Man” on a CD compilation, thus introducing Rodriguez to U.K. listeners.
Now, “Cold Fact” has been reissued by Light in the Attic Records, a Seattle-based boutique label. And “Sugar Man” is available as a FREE MP3.Click here to hear “Sugar Man” on my Vox blog. (It’s flashbacky.) To download it, click the song title below.
“Sugar Man” (MP3) 
Album available at iTunes Music Store
Hey! Soundcheck (WNYC) recently did a story/podcast on him. Psychedelic soul sounds groovy, and all, but I was too distracted by all the other interesting finds on the internet, to listen to it.
ReplyDeleteMaybe I'll give him a second chance now. :-) thx!
^ Cool. His voice reminds me of Jose Feliciano.
ReplyDeleteWhoa! Thanks UBM... you will not believe it, but I remember this song and have no idea why b/c the only place I would've remember it was on Mexican Radio or in a jukebox. I wonder if Sixto's music made it across the border. And yes, he has a very early Jose Feliciano/Trini Lopez kinda vibe.
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, he has a very early Jose Feliciano/Trini Lopez kinda vibe.
ReplyDeleteCool.
I've been listening to "The Folk Years." Feliciano and Lopez are a couple of the artists included on this box set.
Spoke to Dennis Coffey's wife today to see if he was aware of this and it was legit.
ReplyDeleteHe was and it is.
They have some very cool releases over there.
^ Indeed, Dollar. They're doing God's work.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, did you ever read Dennis Coffey's memoirs?