Gilberto Gil
Gilberto Gil’s life has gone full circle from being persecuted and exiled by the government of Brazil (in the hands of a military junta) to being a member of Brazil’s government, whom he serves elegantly as the current Minister of Culture. Born in Salvador, Bahia, the center of Afro-Brazilian culture in 1942, Gil began playing accordion as a young child. Influenced by the legendary Luiz Gonzaga and the forró music of the Northeast, he also enjoyed the samba music of carnival which inspired him to play drums. He was playing accordion with a band called Os Desafinados (the out-of-tunes) when he first heard the exciting new sound of the bossa nova. Immediately enthused, he picked up a guitar, learned how to play, and while still a university student... Read More
- City Of Origin:
- Salvador, Brazil
- Genre:
- World
- Birthdate:
- 06/26/1942
