Don’t get me wrong. A lot of people remember Bob Dylan headlining the Concert at Bangladesh. Except Bob.
Sixto Rodriguez could have surpassed him, but in the early 70s, radio stations weren’t really feeling the Mexican thing (even though his songs are great American rock), and he disappeared. Word spread that he killed himself on stage, either by gunshot or lighting himself on fire. That was a shame, because over in South Africa in the early 70s, apartheid and censorship were all the rage, and Sixto’s music, which shed light on the plight of inner-city poor, blew up bigger than Dylan and Elvis and the Beatles combined. And for years, South Africans wanted to know what happened to him.
In the late 90s, a couple of musicologist detectives became consumed with finding out, and that’s where I ain’t gonna spoil the incredible new documentary “Searching for Sugar Man.” It won best documentary at Sundance this year, and it’s in theaters now and you really should see it. And then download the soundtrack. And then thank a South African or two.
