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Rodriguez: The rock icon who didn't know it

October 7, 2012 4:33 PM

A Detroit musician living in poverty didn't know that in South Africa, he was more popular than the Beatles. Bob Simon reports.

Rodriguez: The rock icon who didn't know it

60 Minutes OverTimeRodriguez, unplugged

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by jjdl March 25, 2013 10:51 PM EDT
I had never heard of Rodriguez till i saw him perform one night on the david letterman show. He just blew me away. Simple, very spiritual. His music and persona just draws you in...
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by dgoffin March 10, 2013 11:50 AM EDT
It's a great story, but what happened to 60 Minutes, the former gold standard of video journalism. This was such a puff piece. 60 Minutes did no real work and spent very little money on this. Nothing new presented that was not in the film.

First, half this 15 minute piece was voice over the documentary...100% footage from the film.

The other half was a single interview with Rodriguez...using film b-roll.

When are these journalists going to "follow the money" and see who stole 500,000 unites of recording sales royalties? Someone has this money. Who? Where? How did the little guy get screwed?

Can they give us any insight as to why Rodriguez "failed" in the US with both his records: Poor record label promotions? His style of playing in clubs (back to crowd)? Drug issue? Bad release date? What happened?? Can't just be bad luck... twice.

Can we hear some of his new, unreleased music...he said he's been writing all these years...what does this poet have to say about America today?

What a wasted opportunity to tell some real stories and add some real insight.

What happened to you 60 Minutes?
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by alycemorgan March 3, 2013 8:41 PM EST
This is such a great story and now the documentary has just won an Oscar!
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by ujhiii February 2, 2013 10:17 PM EST
rodriguez is yoda
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by stevenkremers January 6, 2013 7:07 PM EST
This is an amazing story and a brilliantly made documentary (if you haven't seen it, go see it). I'm South African and I remember the first time I heard 'Sugar Man' very vividly at an all-ages club on a Friday night. I was about 15 at the time and it was the early 90's. I think people who hear him for the first time feel like they're being reacquainted with something good from the past, even though they haven't heard it before. That's kind of like magic.

Music aside, the guy seems almost saintly to me. I hope he makes enough money to buy several Ferraris ! I'm kidding.
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by IzzyLogsdon January 2, 2013 7:01 PM EST
Wow! "60 Minutes" disappoints me a lot these days...but this is a classic "60 Minutes" story. You'd never hear this any place else. Great piece!
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by Johnk1000 November 2, 2012 1:18 PM EDT
I love 60 Minutes and have been a fan for years, but the decision to run this story baffles me. The entire point of the movie is that it's a MYSTERY and the viewer doesn't know what is going to happen. This piece was a complete spoiler and probably ruined the movie for anyone that was planning to see it. Luckily I saw the film before seeing this segment.

Shame on you 60 Minutes for stealing the film maker's thunder; the film speaks for itself and we don't you to ruin it for everyone that hasn't yet seen it. Why don't you also run a piece that reveals the ending of every movie the day it comes out?
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by majikmushroom October 28, 2012 6:41 PM EDT
To all the record producers from the 70s. Shame on you. I am a child of the 60s and this man would have been right up there with Dylan. Mr. Rodriguez if you ever should happen to read this, I have been playing your albums and they are just as great no,w as I would imagine they were back in the day. Thank you so very much. Reed Wells, a new fan.
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by psdjk21 October 28, 2012 1:12 AM EDT
Just an incredible musician with an incredible story. Loved this documentary and congrats to the producers for doing a brilliant job with it.
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by TheWeeklyComet October 26, 2012 2:18 PM EDT
I am so glad that Rodriguez's music is finally being shared and loved by so many people. He deserves all the success in the world, but judging by his character, it is not about the success for him. He genuinely cares about the music and its meaning to his audience. He is such a wonderful musician and human being, we couldn't be more delighted to have had him perform and talk with us on our show. If you haven't seen Searching for Sugar Man yet, GO SEE IT!! It is so worth the time and money, I can't stop listening to his music now!
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