Artist

Gilberto Gil

1963-present·Salvador

Gilberto Gil is Tropicália's musical polymath, a Bahian who folded forró, samba, and Afro-Brazilian tradition into collision with rock, reggae, and whatever else caught his ear. Born in Salvador in 1942, he first heard the accordion music of Luiz Gonzaga as a child, forró that he later said came 'beneath the mud of the earth.' He played accordion and vibraphone in his first band, Os Desafinados ('The Out of Tunes'), while still in high school, and by the mid-1960s was pushing rock instrumentation into Brazilian song.

The full story is in Brazilian Tropicália.

At a glance

Active
1963–present
From
Salvador, Bahia, Brazil
Records in the issues
3 (1968–1972)
Original label
Philips
Listening guide track
“What a Wonderful World”

Listen

In the Brazilian Tropicália listening guide: “What a Wonderful World”

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In the issues

  • Brazilian Tropicália
    Principal · 1967-1972 · Members

    Brazilian Tropicália is a music scene from Salvador and São Paulo, Brazil, 1967–1972. Its principal artists include Caetano Veloso, Gilberto Gil, Os Mutantes and Tom Zé. This issue covers 10 essential albums and 15 dated events.

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