Unbeknownst to him for decades, his music grew extremely successful and influential in South Africa, where he is believed to have sold more records than Elvis Presley.

[3] In the 1990s, determined South African fans managed to find and contact Rodriguez, which led to an unexpected revival of his musical career.

This was told in the 2012 Academy Award-winning documentary film Searching for Sugar Man and helped give Rodriguez a measure of fame in his home country.

In May 2013, Rodriguez received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from his alma mater, Wayne State University, in Detroit.

"[13] Rodriguez quit his music career and in 1976 he purchased a derelict Detroit house in a government auction for $50 (US$268 in 2023 dollars[14]) in which he still lived as of 2013.

"[17] Although Rodriguez remained relatively unknown in his home country, by the mid-1970s his albums were starting to gain significant airplay in Australia, Botswana, New Zealand, Zimbabwe and South Africa.

[25] Despite his success abroad, Rodriguez's fame in South Africa had remained unknown to him until 1997 when his eldest daughter, Eva, came across a website dedicated to him.

[26] After contacting the website and learning of his fame in the country, Rodriguez went on his first South African tour, playing six concerts before thousands of fans.

A documentary, Dead Men Don't Tour: Rodriguez in South Africa 1998, was screened on SABC TV in 2001.

[27] In 1998, Rodriguez's signature song, "Sugar Man", was covered by the South African rock band Just Jinger and, later, by the Scottish singer-songwriter Paolo Nutini.

[28] In April 2007 and 2010, he returned to Australia to play at the East Coast Blues & Roots Music Festival,[29] as well as sell out shows in Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney.

[31] Irish singer-songwriter Darragh O'Dea mentions Rodriguez and references "Inner City Blues" in his 2020 single "Lost Dog Loyal".

In 2014, the French deep house and electro music producer The Avener released a new version of "Hate Street Dialogue" originally appearing on Rodriguez's album Cold Fact.

"[46] After the cinematic release of Searching for Sugar Man in 2012, Rodriguez experienced a flush of media exposure and fan interest in the United States, as well as Europe.

[citation needed] Prominent news coverage included a mid-August 2012 CNN feature story with an interview of Rodriguez discussing his life and career resurgence.

[49] On November 18, 2012, Rodriguez was interviewed on the U.K. Sunday morning news program The Andrew Marr Show, where he also played a short song over the closing credits.

[55] Rodriguez received additional exposure in 2014 as the Dave Matthews Band often covered "Sugar Man" in their summer tour.

[57] The film Searching for Sugar Man strongly implied that Rodriguez had been cheated out of royalties over the years, specifically by Clarence Avant.

[citation needed] Rodriguez headlined a tour in August 2018,[62] ending with a hometown show at Detroit's Garden Theater.

[63] His final North American concert tour in late 2019/early 2020 culminated on February 20, 2020, at Nashville's City Winery.

[72] He was first married to Rayma Rawa and, since 1984, to Constance "Konny" Rodriguez née Koskos, and with them he had three daughters, Eva, Sandra and Regan.