1945

The girl from Salvador (capital of Bahia, Northeast Brazil) was encouraged to pursue a singing career by her music-loving dad. In her teens, she played guitar and sang in parties. Gal met Caetano Veloso and his sister Maria Bethânia in 1963; along with them plus Gilberto Gil and Tom Zé, she put together the show "Nós, Por Exemplo", in 1964. The pack then headed to São Paulo, where they remained connected, although each aimed for their own solo careers. Gal recorded her first single in 1965, featuring "Eu Vim da Bahia" (Gilberto Gil) and "Sim, Foi Você" (Caetano Veloso). She competed in music festivals in 1966; same year when a manager talked her into switching names from Maria da Graça to Gal. She recorded the album "Domingo" with Caetano Veloso, took part in the tropicalist movement and went national in 1968, when her version of "Divino, Maravilhoso" (Caetano/Gil) was placed third in a festival. In addition, Caetano wrote a special song for her, "Baby", which became a hit. In 1969, as Gil and Caetano were exiled in England, she sought for new composers, like Macalé, and released the album "Gal". Still very close to Gil and Caetano’s music and audiences in the 70s, the record "Gal Tropical" initiated a new era for her career in 1979, more popular and commercial. She endured the 80s as absolute queen among the big stars in Brazilian music, even being regarded by some as Brazil’s greatest female singer. Backed up by choice composers, she recorded songs by Jorge Ben Jor, Cole Porter and Carlinhos Brown, then a newcomer. A new turning point in her career came in 1994, with the CD "O Sorriso do Gato de Alice", less for the album itself and more for the concerts, which, directed by Gerald Thomas, promoted drastic changes in her usual style, getting loads of bad press. In the following year, Gal gave up experimenting and released "Mina D'Água do Meu Canto" (dedicated to the music of Chico Buarque and Caetano Veloso), followed by a conservative series of shows. In the 90s, she continued her rise to being a top selling artist in Brazil. Along her 35+ -year career, Gal Costa has lent her talent to countless hits, such as "Vapor Barato" (Jards Macalé/ Waly Salomão), "Meu Nome É Gal" (Roberto/ Erasmo Carlos), "London London" (Caetano), "Deixa Sangrar" (Caetano), "Folhetim" (Chico Buarque), "Balancê" (J. de Barro/ A. Ribeiro), "Índia" /J. Flores/ M. Guerrero/ J. Fortuna), "Festa do Interior" (Moraes Moreira/ Abel Silva) and "Vaca Profana" (Caetano).