In the summer of 1972, during a compulsory stint in the South African military, Stephen 'Sugar' Segerman heard the music that would forever change his life. A decade later, on yet another military base, Craig Bartholomew Strydom heard the same music. It would have a profound effect. Who was this folk singer who resonated with South Africa's youth? No one could say. All that anyone knew was his name - Rodriguez - and the fact that he had killed himself on stage after reading his own epitaph.

After many years of searching in a pre-internet age, Strydom with support from Segerman found the musician not dead but alive and living in seclusion in Detroit. Even more remarkable was the fact that Rodriguez, no longer working as a musician and struggling to eke out a blue-collar existence, had no idea that he had been famous for over 25 years in a remote part of the world...

Craig Bartholomew Strydom (Author)

Craig Bartholomew Strydom is a freelance writer working in advertising. His work has been featured in the London International Awards, the New York Festivals and the One Show. His writing has appeared in Rolling Stone and Creative Nonfiction, and he was a Susan Atefat Creative Nonfiction Prize finalist in 2011.

Stephen 'Sugar' Segerman (Author)

Stephen ‘Sugar’ Segerman is a music writer and co-owner of the iconic record store, Mabu Vinyl. He is also a former quiz kid. Both Strydom and Segerman live in Cape Town.