In the late ‘60s, a minstrel to rival Dylan, going by the one word moniker, Rodriguez, was discovered in a Detroit bar by two celebrated producers, who were struck by his soulful melodies and prophetic lyrics. They quickly recorded an album with him, COLD FACT, believing that it would secure his reputation as one of the greatest recording artists of his generation. In fact, the album bombed, a second album, COMING FROM REALITY, similarly tanked, and the singer disappeared into obscurity.

Stephen “Sugarman” Segerman was a record store proprietor in apartheid South Africa when the album COLD FACT by Rodriguez became a super smash hit.

It became an anthem for those who were against apartheid and thus became an underground phenomenon. The album was banned for airplay on the radio by the government.

Unlike other rock stars of the day, Rodriguez was a mystery, an enigma, made all the more so by rumours that he had self immolated on stage in protest at the fickle finger of fame.

Fate also has a fickle finger and when Segerman hears that the albums are not available in the US, he ponders why. A music journalist also is intrigued about the mystery of the man and starts an enquiry.

Following the money the investigation leads to a story much more extraordinary than any of the existing myths about the artist known as Rodriguez.

A detective story concerning one of the great musical mysteries of the modern era, SEARCHING FOR SUGARMAN is a resurrection shuffle that should renew interest in and appreciation of one of the great unsung heroes of song.

Winner of this year’s Academy Award for Best Documentary, SEARCHING FOR SUGARMAN, defies definition of its category and could quite easily have been nominated best film, period.