Gal Costa

Costa's musical journey began early. At 14, she heard João Gilberto's "Chega de Saudade" on the radio and was drawn to bossa nova. She worked as a clerk in a record store in Salvador to be closer to music. In 1964, she made her professional debut at the concert Nós, por exemplo, alongside Caetano Veloso, Gilberto Gil, and Maria Bethânia. Her first recording came in 1965 on Bethânia's debut album, a duet called "Sol Negro." Her debut solo album, released in 1969, included the classics "Baby" and "Divino Maravilhoso," and is now considered a tropicalismo classic.

Throughout her career, Costa recorded songs by some of Brazil's most celebrated songwriters, including Tom Jobim, Jorge Ben Jor, and Erasmo Carlos. In the 1970s, she was part of the group Doces Bárbaros with Veloso, Gil, and Bethânia. Her 1982 single "Festa Do Interior" became her biggest hit, going multi-platinum. She also performed in Spanish and English. In 2011, she received the Latin Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, and in 2023, Rolling Stone ranked her 90th on its list of the 200 Greatest Singers of All Time.

Costa was openly bisexual and dated singer Marina Lima in the 1990s. She adopted one son, Gabriel. She passed away in São Paulo on 9 November 2022, at 77. Her death prompted tributes from President-elect Lula da Silva, Maria Bethânia, and others, and she was honored posthumously at the 2022 Latin Grammy Awards. Her legacy as a pioneering voice in Brazilian music endures.