When Sixto Rodriguez recorded his debut album Cold Fact in 1969, he dreamed of pop stardom. But, far from the epicentre of the late ’60s folkie scene, the Detroit-based son of Mexican immigrants found that his defining statement was criminally overlooked.
Rodriguez went back to reality, working as a gas station attendant, studying philosophy, campaigning for local government and sticking to his principals. But over time, Cold Fact was rediscovered in the strangest places. Through circumstance and chance, Rodriguez learned he had become a cult figure in South Africa, where Cold Fact had become a beacon of counter-cultural pop for legions of fans who presumed its creator dead. By ’98 he was playing a series of sold-out arena shows in South Africa and Australia.
via A Day In The Life: Rodriguez :: Blogs :: 1000 Words :: Paste.
SugarMan.org 
I knew the lyrics to “I Wonder” by 6 years old, in fact the first time I heard the word sex it might have come from Rodriguez mouth! I remember watching the teaser “Looking for Jesus” in the early 2000’s and wondering if we would’ve get chance to know the truth.
How do you explain to someone who has never heard of him just how much of a legend he is? At 27 I had a chance to see a legend live, an experience that can never be matched. This is somebody who in my life trumps Elvis, The Beatles and the Stones.
This is the most amazing story ever to have been told. Fiction writers spend countless hours trying to conjure up tales half as incredible as this. As a South African this feels like our story. My story.
All we can say to Jesus is “thank you for your time”!
Rodriguez…definetive, elusive, brilliant. Always questioning. A DREAMER.,POET, MUSICIAN….loved him in the 70,s. He was really popular with my tribe in Australia in 1977. How is it possible that his talent was unrecognised in the US.?
I remember Rodriguez was huge in Australia in the late 70s too