Listen to Rodriguez.

Rodriguez, the legendary singer-songwriter and self-taught guitarist, began performing in bars and clubs in Detroit in the 1960’s as the city suffered post-industrial urban decay. It was there that he recorded two studio albums, Cold Fact in 1969 and Coming from Reality in 1971. These recordings went unnoticed in the U.S. but gained airplay in Australia and New Zealand in the 70’s.

Unbeknownst to him, Rodriguez later developed a fan base in South Africa, where anti-Apartheid activists and musicians were inspired by his counterculture lyrics. The film Searching for Sugar Man told the story of his rise to fame in South Africa and how his determined South African fans managed to find and contact Rodriguez, which led to an unexpected revival of his musical career.

Rodriguez now tours extensively in South Africa, Australia, Europe, Canada and the U.S., where he takes thoughtful appreciation in greeting longtime fans. His two albums have been re-released on Light in the Attic Records and the Searching for Sugar Man soundtrack is available on Sony Legacy. International media attention and accolades have since been bestowed upon both the documentary and his music.

Rodriguez is enjoying the collective heartfelt dream of a musician, beating the odds and finding a place in music history.