Singer Sixto Rodriguez, the subject of the Oscar-winning documentary "Searching for Sugar Man," has died. He was 81.
An announcement on his social media account and website delivered the saddening news about the singer, who was professionally known as Rodriguez. According to the post, the crooner died on Tuesday, Aug. 8.
Singer Sixto Rodriguez Dead at 81
Rodriguez's official Facebook page shared the post from SugarMan.org as it honored its "legend."
"We extend our most heartfelt condolences to his daughters - Sandra, Eva and Regan - and to all his family," the statement read, adding, "May His Dear Soul Rest In Peace."
The line "Maybe today, I'll slip away" also appeared below the short announcement, referencing his hit 1967 single, "I'll Slip Away."
Both posts did not disclose Rodriguez's cause of death, but The Mirror reported that the crooner had been ill in the months leading to his death due to a stroke. It remains unknown whether the health condition had something to do with his death.
The report's revelation resonated with what Rodriguez's blog handler, Stephen "Sugar" Segerman," said following his demise, noting that the singer "was not in great shape."
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Fans showered Rodriguez with heartfelt messages and tributes in the post's comment section as they shared how they always loved his music.
"We found Rodriguez through Searching for Sugarman a decade ago and fell in love with him and his musical genius immediately," one said. "I'm so grateful we were able to see him in concert when he came to Vancouver, Canada. May he rest in peace."
"How lucky we were to have this beautiful man's music in our lives. Thank you for being part of the sound track to my life for the last 47 years, peaceful passage to you from Australia," another fan wrote.
Sixto Rodriguez's Career Explored
Rodriguez honed his skills when he played in the Motor City clubs while working on a Chrysler assembly line. One of his performances caught the eyes of producers Mike Theodore and Dennis Coffey, and it eventually opened the doors for him in the music industry.
He soon marked his debut as a solo artist with the 1970 "Cold Fact" album and released its follow-up "Coming From Reality" afterward. Both records, however, turned out to be commercial failures.
After Sussex Records dropped him following the low sales, Rodriguez restarted his work as a laborer.
His life was soon presented in the hit documentary, "Searching For Sugar Man," which garnered several awards, including Best Documentary from BAFTA Award and Best Documentary Feature from the Academy Award.
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