It is with great sadness that we at Sugarman.org announce that Sixto Diaz Rodriguez has passed away earlier today.
We extend our most heartfelt condolences to his daughters – Sandra, Eva and Regan – and to all his family.
Rodriguez was 81 years old.
May His Dear Soul Rest In Peace
“Maybe today, I’ll slip away…”
Sixto Rodriguez (10 July 1942 to 8 August 2023)
SugarMan.org 
What a huge blessing this man was to the world; not only his incredible music but the humility of his soul from which we can all learn so much. May he continue to shed his special beacon of light all over the world and may his family know how grateful we are that in recent years they shared him with us.
My condolences to the bereaved family of the late Sixto Rodriguez. I was just listening to my music lineup and suddenly remember him and visit, and this is what I have found, a very sad visit but somehow destined. Thank you the music and inspiration sir! May your soul rest in eternal peace!
He was a wonderful influence on my thinking and on my life. Dios te bendiga amigo.
By far the greatest and positive influence on me, what a legend. Thank you for just being you. You will never be forgotten.
despite I discovered your music late, your music is timeless, it sute me, gides me,
gives me recognition in the rolling waves of life
unfortunately I never had the opportunity (because of the late “discovery”), to visit a concert.
may your soul rest in peace !!
Sincerely
John
the Netherlands
Rest in peace legend. I grew up with your music and your words in your songs still sound clear in my head. But what you taught me the most is your humbleness. Cape Town, March 1998 was a surreal concert that brought a l gene to life. Thank you for your time ❤️
Wealth has nothing to do with money. Sixto was rich all his life. No one is perfect, but he led a life of honest labor and produced three jewels-Sandra, Eva and Regan.
His life and their lives should be an example to all people who are brought up in “poverty.” that they can enjoy “rich” and happy lives and can be amazingly successful parents.
Question to his daughters- have you ever thought of creasing a non-profit organization that would allow you to inform people who are growing up as you did that, there is a way to lead a happy life during financial poverty? And that there is a way out?
This year, a few months ago, my father passed away too. I discovered Sixto to him, when Sugar Man premiered and he loved his voice, his personality, his life story as much as I do. My father showed me The Beatles, The Byrds, Neil Young, Love, Creedence, Emmylou Harris, Crosby, Stills & Graham Nash and many other pop and rock groups from the 60’s and 70’s. He was like a music library for me when I was a kid. So, it was very important to me that my father liked your music as much as I do.
Rest in peace.
Prayers and love.
Rest in peace: singer, poet, and philosopher
I have been a fan since first listening to your profound and uniquely poetic lyrics in 1976. You unknowingly created a cult following in South Africa. You will live on through your artistry here forever.
You sang “ I’m gonna live till I die “ and you certainly did!
What an incredible man you were, hard working, humble and spiritual , an example to all.
Rest in peace Sixto
Carlota Del Castillo
He sentido una gran tristeza al enterarme, que maravilla de persona, has sido muy grande!!! tu música me
traspasó y ahora forma parte de mi vida. Eternamente agradecida por haberte descubierto, un beso al cielo…
This year, a few months ago, my father passed away too. I discovered Sixto to him, when Sugar Man premiered and he loved his voice, his personality, his life story as much as I do. My father showed me The Beatles, The Byrds, Neil Young, Love, Creedence, Emmylou Harris, Crosby, Stills & Graham Nash and many other pop and rock groups from the 60’s and 70’s. He was like a music library for me when I was a kid. So, it was very important to me that my father liked your music as much as I do.
Rest in peace.
Prayers and love.
Desde México, donde se supone tuvo sus raíces Sixto, un gran gesto de amor para todos quienes disfrutamos su música. Largo viaje señor azucarado.
Moisés F.C.
I discovered Rodriguez in my late teens, and his music has been part of my life ever since. I’m now in my mid 50’s, and still introducing new people to his music. RIP, Rodriguez. You are the true definition of the word LEGEND.
I’m just your average white guy who grew up in the suburbs of Detroit. Any time I listen to your music I get a tear in my eye. The tear can be of joy, sadness, laughter, concern for our society, things I’ve experienced, things I haven’t. I am always moved.
I had the honor of meeting you once. You weren’t feeling good but still took my hand and flashed a Sixto grin at me. Unbelievable man. Thank you
I started to follow Rodriguez since he appeared on the US scene in 2013 via a 60mn TV interview following the Oscar of Search for Sugar Man. I bought his 2 records and the movie. In October 10, 2013 I went to see him at the Radio City Music Hall in New York. It was my saddest show ever. I was expecting the singer who performed brillantly in the Movie. But he was already a shadow of his own self. I was crying when he appeared on stage holding to his youngest daughter; he couldnt see and he couldnt sing despite trying very hard: his voice was broken. But he did try and loved him even more.
Roland for ever.
Today we play Rodriguez in our home to honour him. My husband saw him at a bar in South Africa some 15-20 years ago. We were lucky to see him perform in Detroit in 2018. What an incredible story, and blessing to South Africa and Australia. His music has touched our souls.
Te deseo un buen viaje maestro de la vida, de la humildad, de alma cercana y sincera. Estoy feliz por haber conocido tu existencia, tu historia, por poder disfrutar de tu música, por percibir tu carisma y beber de tus vivencias. Pero hoy no puedo evitar sentirme tan triste como si hubiera perdido a un amigo y a mi musa a la vez.
Gracias por darme tanto ❤️🌟
RIP Sugarman, loved your music. Peace be with you Bozz.
So very sad to hear of Rodriguez’s passing. My condolences to his family and friends.
I’m in Canada and I, as well as so many others discovered his music through the documentary. Watching it the first time all those years ago brought tears to my eyes, especially when he stood on stage in South Africa in humble appreciation realizing how much his music meant to people in that country fighting apartheid and racism. It brought joy to my heart to see him finally getting the recognition of his music and his artistry. I bought both albums on vinyl and cd, bought the documentary soundtrack on vinyl and i bought the documentary itself. His music is timeless, introspective, challenging, beautiful, mesmerizing. Mr. Sugarman, you might be gone, but your legacy and music will live on for eternity. Thank you for what you gave us.
I am sad to hear this news. I discovered Sixto in the documentary and have sent it to several friends. What a profound story. Great musician and singer. I have his albums and will not forget this man. May he rest in peace. I wish comfort and peace to his family.
How did we in the U.S. miss such a great musician and song writer? I feel like I’ve truly lost a chance to enjoy not only a talented person but a wonderful, generous and compassionate human being while he was still living. I watched Searching for Sugarman and was so touched by his humility. He lived a life of a man that most people would be honored to know. I hope that his family will be comforted by those of us who discovered him late in life, but still wondered at his abilities and love for others. We don’t have many examples in this world today of truly “great” human beings, but Rodriguez was one of them.
I’m 23 years old and never learnt how to tap into my introspection with songwriting until I heard your lyrics. These albums are not only gifts but lessons. Akin to Joni Mitchell’s ‘Blue’, these albums were both way ahead of their time, but also somewhere else entirely. You have blessed that stereo with something I can’t explain. Whether it is a feeling- or a colour- or a tone, I don’t know. You filled a place in my soul that I never knew existed, but needing tending to. Man, I only just introduced my Dad to you. My kids too will carry the torch. How lucky we are to have shared this lifetime, this madness, with a beacon like Sixto. Rest in Peace Rod. With love.
You sir, have left a mark on many souls!
RIP Sixto, may you sing your beautiful music among all the angels,
Dios te bendiga!
I discovered this Legend through the documentary 10 years ago and I was touched by his music humility and his humanity what a songwriter he is up there with the very greats in fact one of the very greats Rest In Resurrection Don Rodríguez my condolence to his family your music WILL live on for generations to come bless you and thank you for the music.
Rest easy
Sending love straight from Russia
To the family – keep ya heads up
Things are gonna get easier
Very sad news.. everyone into music listened to Cold Fact in the 70’s and 80’s in Australia…. There was a ‘best of’ album too I think .. It wasn’t until your ‘rediscovery’ that we found out the whole story ..
Got to see you live in Byron Bay in 1998 or thereabouts .. and again there a few years later ..
Amazing story .. The Music will live on forever
Condolences to the family
..Simon
I was a little boy with a big brother fighting in the Border War. Like many of his fellow soldiers, he returned home with a copy of the Humble Great’s music. Fascinating music and story. Thank you, Sixto for creating such echoing tunes and thank you, so much, to Sugar for going through all that to find the legend, to remind him that he was “still alive”.
Commiserations for the loss of your friend…
The Jesus of music….a man who wanted to give to the world music…real music…. and betrayed by all the Judas’s who thought he was doing it for money….live on man!!
Dear man, what an inspiration to so many. Sad to hear of his death and wishing his family deepest condolences. His music will play on in our hearts and homes. Thank you to Sugar for your incredible dedicated re discovery of this music legend.
Sixto
Your words have opened our eyes
Your songs have opened our souls
Your life is an inspiration
“But thanks for your time ….”
“I think of you. And I think of you…”
“It started out with butterflies. On a velvet afternoon…”
“The moon is hanging. In the purple sky…”
Thanks for giving a concert in a lost small hall in Geneva
You give sense to my life !
Love to your children and loved ones. Your love remains eternal
Rodriguez set sail in a teardrop and escaped beneath the doorsill in a silver magic ship.
Sixto has been an inspiration since I met his songs 10 years ago. How many friends with I shared that songs? How many times I have played that songs in my guitar seeing the horizon from my apartment balcony? Thank you, Sixto! My condolences to his family! He was and will remain as the poet of those with the heart and soul at the margins!
Thank you Sixto, for all the years you gave us love
Sir! You have my respect
A humble gentleman who let fame run from you like water from a ducks back.
Sitting with you back in the late 90’s having met you after a concert in Bellville was an honor I will not easily let go of.
Your lyrical tunes raised us kids and taught us to think with an acoustic guitar.
And when we were sent to fight in the army, you were there in the times – feeding us with your powerful thoughts and songs.
I have listened to your music and sung your beautiful songs.
In every kind of bar, campfire, pub, road trip, concert and that there is.
Back in my English class, I brought “Establishment Blues” to school as my song analysis.
Shame, my poor English teacher was a bit out of his league.
And sitting with my brother in his hippie combi on our way to the beach to surf Cape Town(smoking too much dagga).
Man, you are a big part of who I am today.
You taught me to think Man!!
To sit and chat to you was absolute.
Us, just a bunch of overzealous kids and you a kindly hero.
Thank you Sir!
May we meet again
Till then, I will always look up to you
‘Giving substance to shadows
Giving substance evermore!’
This is the third time I come to visit my son in Ohio. And everytime I was thinking on visit Detroit and meet my idol Rodrigez. I just talked about Sixto during this dinner to a guy from Detroit and he told me “Rodriguez died yesterday “
Could you tell me where and when
will be his funerals. I’d like to attend to pay respect to Sixto.
Sincerely
José Ángel from
Monterrey Mexico
I discovered Rodriguez watching Searching for Sugarman. I instantly fell in love with him and his music. Sorry I never got to see him live. I was hoping I could throw my bra on the stage. RIP Sixto!!!💕❤️
Rest in peace, warrior of song and poetry. You have no clue as a surfer-dude, how your songs changed our lives in the surfer community in Cape Town, South Africa, during the 80’s. As liberals, and Anti-Apartheid activists too, you also helped heal communities. You will never be gone, your songs will live through eternity in our hearts. Thank you. Love you brother.
sixto, by your deeds we will always know you, and by your words we will always know ourselves, well done mate, not how he died, but how he lived, long live sixto rodriguez
RIP. A great man gone.
Very very sad to hear these news, He was a very talented artist and caring person.
Way ahead of his time as his music still holds true tin oday’s world. He used his life better than most of us, peacefully with compassion and no complaining. With or without he was happy. God rest his soul
RIp Sugar Man
Goodnight Mr Rodriguez
I was fortunate enough to him perform in San Diego. Respect peace.