RODRIGUEZ (Folk/Pop - US)
Rodriguez will arguably be one of the curiosities of the Ardentes 2009. Born Sixto Diaz Rodriguez in 1942, sixth child of a family of Mexican immigrants who settled in Detroit, he is the composer of the wonderful "Sugar Man" and the album "Cold Fact", a nugget that was reissued last year but mystified by rock encyclopaedias up to that point. It is a unique record where folk tracks are overlapped by psychedelic arrangements, with sections that are more jazzy and drum grooves wavering between blues and soul. A real hit! Furthermore, at the time of release, these titles failed to win over the public despite glowing reviews. Hurt, Rodriguez pushed music into the background, studied philosophy and launched a career in politics. Only in South Africa and Australia was this fantastic songwriter worshipped, where he was nicknamed Jesus Rodriguez! They were the only places in the world that had the CD reissue of "Cold Fact" which allowed Rodriguez to organise a tour in South Africa in the 90s, putting an end to the absurd rumour that the composer of "Sugar Man" was dead. The peak of his delayed arrival on stage, Rodriguez owes to rapper Nas who sampled his song "Sugar Man". A new opportunity presents itself at the Ardentes for you to discover this major artist who ranks beside Bob Dylan and Love.
