In 1968, Mike Theodore and Dennis Coffey brought a young talent into Tera Shirma named Sixto Rodriguez. The resulting album, "Cold Fact" bombed, as we say in the business. Did zippo, bupkus, etc etc.
But a story would soon emerge from these ruins. South Africa which was experiencing a revolution in race relations, mirroring the United States' quest for racial equality. Rodriguez wrote songs that addressed the plight of of those in the world living constrained by the chains of inequity. "Cold fact" had these songs and South Africa embraced the ideas within like it was written for them. It took off and so did the notoriety of Sixto Rodriguez. And then he disappeared. Rumors of suicide abounded.
And this is where it all changes. The story is told in a documentary titled "Searching For Sugar Man". Theodore and Coffey are interviewed in the film and Tera Shirma even gets a mention. To date, the film has garnered first place at the prestigious Sundance Film Festival and is set for world release this month. It is gearing up to a possible best documentary in the coming Academy Award show.
Stay tuned. This will prove to be a very interesting story. More to come.
Bookmarks