Gal Costa will be veiled at the Legislative Assembly of São Paulo this Friday (11)

The body of singer Gal Costa will be veiled this Friday (11), between 9 am and 3 pm, at the Legislative Assembly of São Paulo. The burial, whose location has not been disclosed, will be restricted to friends and family.

The artist, who was one of the biggest names in MPB, died this Wednesday (9), at the age of 77, at her home in São Paulo. The cause of her death has not yet been released.

In a statement released to the press, the singer’s advice thanked “the affection of everyone in this difficult time”. Also according to the singer’s team, Gal had been recovering in the last three weeks from a nasal surgical procedure.

This Wednesday was also marked by the death of actor, singer and presenter Rolando Boldrin, who was 86 years old.

Gal Costa’s Story

Maria da Graça Costa Penna Burgos, aka Gal, was born in Salvador, Bahia and started singing as a teenager at school parties and works at a record store, where she got to know bossa nova.

In 1964, she joins the singing artists Caetano Veloso, Gilberto Gil, Tom Zé and Maria Bethânia in “We, For Example”, the opening show of Teatro Vila Velha, in Salvador. In the same year, still as Maria da Graça, she recorded an album with the tracks “Eu Vim da Bahia” and “Sim, Foi Você”.

According to the Enciclopédia da Música Brasileira, a project by Itaú Cultural, after 1967 she recorded two songs from the album “Tropicália” or “Panis et Circencis”, by Caetano.

The ability to reinvent herself was a striking feature of the singer and her career was marked by changes. The first one takes place in 1968: with a necklace of mirrors, a black power hairstyle and a high-pitched and provocative singing, Gal defends the song “Divino Maravilhoso” at the 4th Festival of Brazilian Popular Music on TV Record and takes third place.

In 1969, he released two albums, “Gal Costa” and “Gal”, with songs by Roberto Carlos and Erasmo Carlos, icons of the young guard. In the singer’s voice, the pop appeal compositions gain an energetic interpretation.

During Caetano and Gil’s exile, iGal becomes a representative of tropicalismo. In 1970, the singer went to London to visit the two musicians and, back in Brazil, released “LeGal”.

The live album “Fa-tal – Gal a Todo Vapor”, from 1971, features songs by Luiz Melodia (1951-2017), Roberto Carlos and Erasmo Carlos.

Also touching on the political issue, the cover of the album “India” brings a close-up of the crotch of the singer, dressed in a bikini and, on the back cover, she appears with bare breasts. The LP was sold in stores inside dark plastic because of censorship.

With the album “Cantar”, Gal gets closer to MPB and changes his vocal posture, softening the aggressiveness and prioritizing the clear voice, a return to the reference of João Gilberto.

In 1975, Gal, Gil, Caetano and Bethânia get together for the show “Os Doces Bárbaros”, which gives rise to the eponymous album. In the same year, he interprets “Modinha para Gabriela”, by composer Dorival Caymmi (1914-2008) and the opening theme for the adaptation of the novel Gabriela, Cravo e Canela, by Jorge Amado (1912-2001). Less experimental, Gal Canta Caymmi (1975) and the two following albums, Caras e Bocas (1977) and Água Viva (1978), are public successes.

In 1980, she revisited the work of composer Ary Barroso (1903-1964) with the album “Aquarela do Brasil”. With “Fantasia” (1981), she achieved success on the radio with the track “Festa no Interior”, by Moraes Moreira (1947-2020) and Abel Silva.

In 1988, she received the Sharp Award for best singer. In the 1990s, she resumed her partnership with Salomão on the album “Plural”, and in 1993, she released “O Sorriso do Gato de Alice”.

On the 2011 album “Recanto”, Gal reinvented herself again. The work, composed and produced by Caetano, brings a repertoire with electronic music and funk carioca.