Who is this guy known as Sixto Rodriguez? Apparently he was the Bob Dylan for many of South Africa's white liberals who grew up during the anti-apartheid movement. But South Africa? An American singer, whose quality of writing and music rival that of Dylan, and yet no one has ever heard of him this side of the Atlantic. Why?

Searching for Sugar Man

is an incredibly poignant documentary that offers an intimate look into the life of someone who for so long was as an enigma to so many, and who, more interestingly, died so many dramatic deaths in front of an audience he puts Shakespearean literature to shame. Imagine all you knew of your favorite musician was the picture on the cover of an album. Well, that's what it was like for many of Rodriguez's biggest fans in South Africa. The quest to find out who this uber talented sunglasses-wearing musician burned deep. As I watched the documentary, I became captivated myself by his music and intrigued by the persona behind that crystal clear voice. I was on on the edge of my seat (couch) as I was taken to some very unexpected places, and felt as if I too had been yearning for decades to know who this "Sugar Man" was.

Highly recommended!

Preview Rodriguez's Cold Fact (1970) album here.