Gilberto Gil Bio (Biography)
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Biography
Just because someone can play a multitude of instruments, compose music and sing does not mean he is resistant to the lure of commercial music enterprises.
Gilberto Gil is a renowned name in his country of Brazil for his musical talents. But he is also respected and praised for his ability to create engaging musical television commercials.
During the early 1960s, when others were discovering the power of the hippie movement, Gil was writing memorable jingles for television ads. Prior to that, he was studying business administration at Salvador's Federal University.
He did not get into his more serious recordings and musical ventures until 1965 when he moved to Sao Paulo and came out with his first hit single Louvacao. Protest songs were soon to follow which impressed Brazilians involved in the Tropicalia movement. And that later made way for his first self-titled recording in 1966. The album was a dynamic blend of bossa nova, samba and other Latin styles. Gil's style was considered so revolutionary, in fact, that he had to leave his country for Great Britain as they were not ready to embrace him fully just yet.
Three years went by in England and Gil was working with rock 'n' roll greats like Pink Floyd and Rod Stewart. He missed his homeland though and returned to Brazil in 1972 when he recorded Espresso 2222.
Never compromising his values, Gil continued to speak out about issues he felt were controversial like the black consciousness movement taking place in Brazil at that time. Throughout his lifetime, he has been involved in various social and political issues and was even elected to office during the late 1980s. In 1988, he became a member of Salvador's city hall council and he held this posting until 1992 when he did another recording called Parabolicamara. The single Madalena from it became one of the most popular songs of the city's Carnival that year.
Gil can play the guitar, drums, trumpet and accordion, an instrument he learned as a child.
He is currently serving as Brazil's Minister of Culture.
Gilberto Gil is a renowned name in his country of Brazil for his musical talents. But he is also respected and praised for his ability to create engaging musical television commercials.
During the early 1960s, when others were discovering the power of the hippie movement, Gil was writing memorable jingles for television ads. Prior to that, he was studying business administration at Salvador's Federal University.
He did not get into his more serious recordings and musical ventures until 1965 when he moved to Sao Paulo and came out with his first hit single Louvacao. Protest songs were soon to follow which impressed Brazilians involved in the Tropicalia movement. And that later made way for his first self-titled recording in 1966. The album was a dynamic blend of bossa nova, samba and other Latin styles. Gil's style was considered so revolutionary, in fact, that he had to leave his country for Great Britain as they were not ready to embrace him fully just yet.
Three years went by in England and Gil was working with rock 'n' roll greats like Pink Floyd and Rod Stewart. He missed his homeland though and returned to Brazil in 1972 when he recorded Espresso 2222.
Never compromising his values, Gil continued to speak out about issues he felt were controversial like the black consciousness movement taking place in Brazil at that time. Throughout his lifetime, he has been involved in various social and political issues and was even elected to office during the late 1980s. In 1988, he became a member of Salvador's city hall council and he held this posting until 1992 when he did another recording called Parabolicamara. The single Madalena from it became one of the most popular songs of the city's Carnival that year.
Gil can play the guitar, drums, trumpet and accordion, an instrument he learned as a child.
He is currently serving as Brazil's Minister of Culture.