It was earlier this year that I wrote about Sixto Rodriguez. I don’t have much to add in those six months but it is worth noting- when I “discovered” him that he has since became a favorite artist. That’s not a big deal when you are younger, but as I approach the middle of being middle aged, events like this are quite rare.
A benefit of social media has been sharing their stories- seeing him in concert or even knowing him as a Detroit area civic leader/community organizer. It is a good story from obscurity to being streamed in the tens of millions
I love Cold Fact, his debut in which almost every song is a keeper. To me, it feels like an intersection of Dylan/Donovan style folk and a more urban sound like Gil Scott Heron and Curtis Mayfield.
It’s hard to think of who his peers really are, though names like Richie Havens, Tim Buckley and Arthur Lee come to mind. I can only imagine Rodriguez makes more sense in terms of artists who came after him (think the Ben Harpers and Tracy Chapmans) than anything that came before him.
His second album Coming From Reality is much less accessible, I think. Yet is at least strong enough to cement the legend.
Rodriguez falls into a rather unique spot of being a cult artist and having his work enjoyed by millions. I think we will only see a bigger influence as time goes on and he slips seamlessly into the file of great 70s singer songwriters
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