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| Sixto Diego Rodriguez |
They record an album. It bombs. Sells less than 100 copies. Undaunted, they record another: "Cold Fact". It bombs. Sells less than 100 copies.
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| Album cover, Cold Fact |
Sixto decides that maybe he is not the next Bob Dylan, after all, and gives up on his dream, and takes a job in construction. He works construction in Detroit for the next 30 years.
BUT........
A bootleg copy of Cold Fact finds its way to South Africa (during Apartheid) and it gets played on the radio. People go crazy!! Who is this guy? He's the next Bob Dylan!! He's as big as The Beatles!! Who is he? (Sixto Diego Rodriguez is a stage name, not a real name, and, since it is a bootleg tape, there is no information to go by.)
Polydor, a big record company in South Africa produces a professional version of the bootleg tape, and it sells MILLIONS!!
In the 70's, and the 80's, Rodriguez is as big a name in South Africa as The Stones and The Beatles, and they think that he is big all over the world, too. They are kind of isolated in South Africa, due to geography, and due to Apartheid. The only thing that his fans know for sure... is that he is dead!! The rumour is that he killed himself on stage. But how? Why?
In the 90's, two fans decide to answer those questions. They analyze the lyrics of his songs for clues, and finally they figure that Dearborn, Michigan is referenced, which leads them to the music scene in Detroit, which leads in turn to the producer of Cold Facts. They call him up. "Did you produce Cold Facts?" they ask. He says yes. "Where?" "In Detroit."
They come to the all-important question: How did he die?
"What do you mean?"
"We know he killed himself... but how? And why?" they ask.
"I saw Sixto yesterday. He is not dead."
It is like they have been told that Elvis is still alive!! Like Jimi Hendrix is strill kicking around in Toledo!!
They call Sixto's house. He hangs up on them... thinks it is a crank call. They call back. "You have the wrong guy! I am a construction worker, not a singer!!"
Finally they convince him that they are for real, and Sixto visits South Africa, and he tours to sold out concerts all over South Africa. He gives his money to charities.
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| Documentary |
