Facundo Cabral was born in the Argentine city of La Plata , and could not talk until the age of nine . He was illiterate until the age of 14 . His wife and daughter died when he was 40 . He met his father at the age of 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 )
PSA Flight 182
PSA Flight 182
Facundo Cabral