Facundo Cabral
| Facundo Cabral | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Background information | |
| Born |
May 22, 1937 La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina |
| Died | July 9, 2011 (aged 74) Guatemala City, Guatemala |
| Genres | Troubadour, folklore, folk rock |
| Occupation(s) | Singer-songwriter |
| Instruments | Guitar, Harmonica |
| Years active | 1959–2011 |
Facundo Cabral (May 22, 1937 – July 9, 2011) was an Argentine singer, songwriter and philosopher.
He was best known as the composer of "No soy de aquí ni soy de allá" ("I'm not from here nor there"), which he improvised during one of his concerts. His songs have been covered by Spanish language interpreters such as Alberto Cortez, who was also a friend of his, Juan Luis Guerra and Joan Manuel Serrat.
After touring the world, Cabral enjoyed popularity in his home country during the early 1980s, when Argentine radio demanded local content after the Malvinas War. He became a very popular singer throughout Latin America. Facundo Cabral was named a UNESCO Messenger of Peace in 1996.
Facundo Cabral was born in the Argentine city of La Plata, and could not talk until the age of nine, was illiterate until the age of 14, was widowed at 40 and met his father at 46. Facundo did not have an easy childhood; he left his home early and was dedicated to all kinds of tasks. From the most humble of beginnings, he came to inspire millions around the world through his songs, poems and 66 books. He walked 400 km at the age of nine to look for work to support his mother and seven siblings after his father abandoned them. When he left his mother told him, "This is the second, and last gift I can give you. The first was to give you life, and the second one, the liberty to live it." He traveled to Mar del Plata and got a job in a hotel where the owner saw him with his guitar and gave him the opportunity to sing. He wrote music that inspired millions. He met Mother Teresa. He performed in over 165 countries in eight different languages. His earlier artistic name was El Indio Gasparino. His wife and one-year-old daughter were killed in 1978 in the PSA Flight 182 crash near San Diego, California. He was nearly blind and crippled, and was a bone cancer survivor as well. When he was diagnosed in his twenties, his doctor told him he only had a couple of months to live but he survived much longer and was an inspiration to all. He loved travelling, it was a part of his life, he did not care about money, he just was happy to be alive. Facundo Cabral was killed in Guatemala after a concert. He gave his testimony of life to the world in songs, poems or just chatting, and was a great loss to the world. He always said, Siempre le pregunto a Dios, ¿por qué a mí tanto me diste? Me diste miseria, hambre, felicidad, lucha, luces... vi todo. Sé que hay cáncer, sífilis y primavera, y buñuelos de manzana (I always ask God, why did you give me so much? You gave me misery, hunger, happiness, struggle, lights... I saw everything. I know there is cancer, syphilis and spring, and apple fritters).
...
Wikipedia