Louisa Jo Killen, David Bowie, Roger Jean-Claude Mbede, Gabriela Mistral, María Elena Walsh

Born: Louisa Jo Killen (1934)
Died: David Bowie (2016), Roger Jean-Claude Mbede (2014), Gabriela Mistral (1957), María Elena Walsh (2011)

Born on this day

One of the great voices of the British folk revival began living as a woman at 76 – and regretted nothing.

His changing musical identities and gender-defying performances expanded the possibilities of mainstream pop.

A single text message to a man sent him to prison in Cameroon – Amnesty International named him a prisoner of conscience. He died at 34.

A Chilean poet, teacher and diplomat whose intimate life was long hidden behind her public reputation.

Every Argentine child knows her songs – and her partner of decades was the photographer Sara Facio.