Rodriguez on 60 Minutes

This past Sunday 60 Minutes ran a feature on the musician Rodriguez and his improbable rebirth this past year as a Rock Star at age seventy. As I have written previously about the Searching for Sugar Man movie that is playing to wide acclaim and the corresponding soundtrack introducing people to this incredible singer-songwriter they missed generations ago most by now know the story of his rise this year.

This story on the show this week was told elegantly with conversations with the record label executive that signed him, and with the South African record store owner who decided to find him. Footage of his initial performance in South Africa is shown and it is moving in a way few things you will see are.

Watching Bob Simon, the reporter for CBS hold Rodriguez's arm as he walks gingerly down the street and comment on his struggles to walk and his almost being blind one thinks of the vagaries of life. From all accounts this humble and decent man who in conversation with Simon when asked if working hard labor for more than 30 years with the thought that music had passed him by says simply" There is no shame in hard work, there is no shame in being poor," is a man we can all be thankful to hear and know about.

It should also make us glad that some of the recognition of his talent and work has come while he is still alive. Perhaps we would all do well to think about people we know and care about that we should acknowledge while we are still able.

In days of bad news, ugly campaign rhetoric, and all the negativity in our society take fifteen minutes to watch this story online and feel good.