Forget Dylan, forget Marley, those who listened to Rodriguez credited him with helping revolutionise a nation.
The U.S. folk singer was banned on the radio in South Africa in the 1970s.
His message of anti-establishment was perceived to be a threat to apartheid.
But the enigmatic singer found favour with white liberals, who questioned the then government's separation of people along colour lines.
After flopping in the U.S., Rodriguez faded until obscurity.
Many believed he'd died - some said he'd shot himself, others mentioned an outrageous suicide where he set fire to himself on stage.
More than 30 years later, the search for the Mexican-American singer is being told in new documentary "Searching for Sugarman".
The movie premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York on Tuesday (April 24), with the "Sugar Man", aka Rodriguez, in attendance.
He admitted he was disappointed to have not known about his fame overseas.
SOUNDBITE: Rodriguez, Subject Of The Documentary, "Searching For Sugarman", saying (English):
"It was a disappointment to me then, but look at this, it's quite something to be here."
When Rodriguez went on tour in South Africa after being found, he said the reception he received was incredible.
Director Malik Bendjelloul said despite the injustice of Rodriguez' story, the singer was not bitter.
SOUNDBITE: Malik Bendjelloul, Director of "Searching For Sugarman", saying (English):
"You'd think that he would have become bitter of this life that he was actually a superstar for 30 years without knowing it, but he isn't."
The documentary picked up two awards when it premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and snapped up by Sony Pictures Classics.
Rodriguez is now finding fame the second time around, thanks to the internet.
SOUNDBITE: Rodriguez, Subject Of The Documentary, "Searching For Sugarman", saying (English):
"Everybody's a phone booth now and a camera so, and now I think it's like they used to say, the pen is mightier than the sword, now I think the camera is pretty much mightier than the pen."
The movie is out in the UK and Sweden in August.
Cindy Martin, Reuters
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