“The Resurrection of Rodriguez: Unearthing the Untold Journey of a Working-Class Songwriter”

Rodriguez, a Working-Class Songwriter, Lost to History — Except in Australia and South Africa

By Paul Donoughue

Posted 12 hours ago, Updated 7 hours ago

Introduction:

The story of Sixto Rodriguez, a working-class songwriter from Detroit, is one of triumph and obscurity. For decades, Rodriguez remained virtually unknown in his home country of the United States, but he found an unexpected audience and adoration in Australia and South Africa. This article delves into the untold journey of Rodriguez, his resurrection as a musical icon, and the legal battles he faced throughout his career.

Australia: An Early Embrace

In the mid-1970s, Zev Eizik, an Israeli concert promoter living in Melbourne, made the journey to the United States in search of a musician named Rodriguez. Back in Australia, there was a growing buzz surrounding Cold Fact, Rodriguez‘s debut album. However, due to a shortage of copies and Rodriguez‘s disassociation from his Detroit label, Sussex, it seemed impossible to fulfill the demand.

Through negotiations with Clarence Avant, the owner of Sussex, Eizik obtained the rights to release Rodriguez‘s music in Australia. With a reel-to-reel tape passed to him by Avant, Eizik put together a collection of songs from Cold Fact and the follow-up album, Coming From Reality. This compilation, titled At His Best, achieved platinum status in Australia, selling over 50,000 copies. It was a breakthrough that led Eizik to travel to the US, where he finally found Rodriguez working at a service station in Detroit.

Despite initial challenges, Rodriguez made his way to Australia with a band of Detroit musicians, and his first concert was met with overwhelming emotion. As his confidence grew throughout the tour, Rodriguez‘s unique voice and powerful lyrics resonated with Australian audiences. This tour marked the beginning of Rodriguez‘s love affair with Australia, where he would return multiple times in the years to come.

South Africa: A Surprising Connection

While Rodriguez‘s music gained traction in Australia, it was in South Africa that he experienced another unexpected surge in popularity. Gallo Records, a South African label, had also licensed his music and began selling his albums locally. In a country largely isolated from the Western world due to apartheid policies, rumors circulated for years that Rodriguez had died tragically. It wasn’t until the end of apartheid in the 1990s that Rodriguez discovered his adoration in South Africa.

Eizik, who had become Rodriguez‘s manager, organized several tours for him in South Africa during the 1990s. These tours saw Rodriguez perform in arenas and stadiums, solidifying his status as a musical icon in the country. However, by the end of the decade, Rodriguez lacked new material to sustain further tours.

Legal Battles: Injustice and Resolutions

In addition to Rodriguez‘s journey from obscurity to success, the article explores the legal disputes that plagued his career. The Academy Award-winning documentary Searching For Sugar Man shed light on Rodriguez‘s unlikely rise to stardom as well as his alleged mistreatment in terms of royalty payments.

Producer Harry Balk filed a lawsuit in the United States on behalf of Rodriguez in 2014, accusing Clarence Avant of fraudulently withholding royalty payments. Balk claimed that Rodriguez had no knowledge of the success and popularity of his albums, thereby relinquishing his rights unknowingly. The lawsuit was settled in 2017, although the exact amount Rodriguez received remains undisclosed.

Eizik, who worked closely with Rodriguez, described the singer as “unbelievably kind, generous, and a person who could easily be taken advantage of.” Money was not a driving factor for Rodriguez, who described himself as “working-class” and found it difficult to handle financial matters.

Conclusion: A Miraculous Resurrection

Despite never achieving commercial success in the United States during his early years, Rodriguez‘s story is not uncommon. Many talented artists never receive the recognition they deserve. It was only through the miracle of circumstances, decades after Rodriguez‘s original recordings, that he finally received the acclaim he deserved. Rodriguez‘s music touched the hearts and souls of listeners in Australia and South Africa, where his songs became anthems for change and inspiration.

Throughout his humble and tumultuous journey, Rodriguez remained true to his working-class roots and focused on his music. His impact and significance as an artist and a symbol of resilience still resonate today.

This article was originally published on abc.net.au/news and has been edited for this writing sample