searching for sugar man

watched such an incredibly moving, and unbelievable story at the theater the other day with my pal marcus. i was first gripped by the story when i saw a clip about it on 60 minutes. the story is about a musician out of detroit named rodriguez, and his mysterious absence during the height of his popularity in a country where he had no idea his music was heard. i don't want to ruin too much of the story for yall becuase i highly recommend checking out the film, searching for sugar man, but my heart was on an emotional roller coaster throughout the film. i laughed out loud, my eyes welled up with tears, and i expressed my disapproval out loud (oops) in the middle of the theater.

the premise of the documentary is the search for rodriguez, a musician so monumental to south africans during a particularly pivotal moment in the history of their country--the apartheid. this name, that you have likely never heard, the name i had never heard until i saw 60 minutes was bigger than the rolling stones--and was just as popular as two of the most legendary albums of all time (abbey road, and bridge over troubled waters). the most insane part is that, all of this was unbeknownst to rodriguez, who continued working in construction and odd end jobs in detroit. rumor had it, that he had committed suicide on stage during one of her concerts, and that he was resting in peace--until two south african men made it their mission to find out how he really died. the story that ensues cannot be done justice in a simple blog post, but rodriguez is NOT dead, rather he is still working as a laborer in detroit living in the same small rundown shack he has lived in for the past 40 years
i think its rare to see a human being like rodriguez, one who was truly in the business of music for art's sake, and was simply sharing his lyrics of trying times in his own life with whoever would listen and perhaps identify with. and more than that, the small glimpses, that we as the audience get, of the type of man rodriguez was and is, makes my respect for him that much greater--the humblest, calmest, and kindest soul, who expresses no sorrow for the glamorous life that was lost for him, and no greed for the money that belongs in his pocket but is sitting in someone else's. such an inspiring, touching story that really helped restore my faith in my love for music, and excited me for the city of detroit ♥
peace&love