Brazilian singer and songwriter Gal Costa, one of the country's greatest voices, has died at the age of 77, her advice reported on Wednesday. Costa is one of the greatest exponents of the Brazilian tropicalist movement, to which historical figures such as Caetano Veloso, Gilberto Gil and Maria Bethânia also belong. The causes of her death were not reported.
Costa, known as the Muse of Tropicalism, underwent recent surgery to remove a nodule in her nose that made her suspend the tour that was going to take her to Europe in the final stretch of this year. With an unparalleled presence and a unique voice, Costa is the soundtrack of Brazilian history and is part of a unique generation that founded the pillars of Brazilian Popular Music (MPB).
Born on September 26, 1945 in Salvador, capital of the state of Bahia, she developed her musical career for more than 50 years, going through several generations today orphaned by a woman who faced the conservatism of the military dictatorship (1964-1985). In a country gagged by the regime, Costa used her voice to break the mould, while Gil and Veloso were in exile.
His bravery was censored in that dark age, which he managed to shed light on with forceful presentations to the sound of his guitar. Winner of the Latin Grammy in 2011 for her work as a whole, Costa spoke with different currents throughout her career, from Bossa Nova to samba, passing through rock.
The world of music has been surprised and shocked by the news. One of the first to react was Gilberto Gil, one of her colleagues throughout her career and who was with her, along with Cateano Veloso and María Bethania, in the group Doces Bárbaros: "Very sad and shocked by the death of my sister Gal Costa".
