Gilberto Gil was born in the city of Salvador, in the northern state of Bahia Brazil, in June of 1942. Just after his birth, his family moved to the interior of the state, where he spent his childhood. He grew up listening to the duels of violeiros (a kind of improvised musical battle of blind singers and guitar players) at the local markets, street bands and to the radio. At age of 8, he went back to Salvador, where he was influenced by Trio Eletrico (a group formed by heavy percussion and typical electric guitars) in Carnival time, Attracted by the baiao (a rhythm of the northern part of Brazil) of Luiz Gonzaga, he started to play the accordion.
By the end of the 1950's, Gil was playing in the forros (a kind of popular dance party) with a group called Os Desafinados (The out of tunes'). At about this time, Gil heard the singer and guitarist Joao Gilberto on the radio for the first time. Gil was so impressed that he bought himself a guitar and learned how to sing and play the Bossa Nova. This influence is dear in his first song, Felicidade Vem Depois. While he was composing and recording jingles for advertisements and starting out a career in music, he was studying business administration. in 1964, he was in the Nos Por Exemplo, a show of bossa nova and traditional Brazilian songs. The singers Caetano Veloso, Maria Bethania, Gal Costa and Tom Ze were also part of the show.
in 1965 Gil moved to Sao Paulo. After playing and singing in various shows, he got his first hit when the famous singer Elis Regina recorded his song Louvacao. He then recorded his first album, also called Louvacao. With the influences of Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, his musical conception became more urban. In the following years he was one of the leaders of "Tropicália", a cultural movement that sparked a whole renovation in all aspects of artistic manifestation in Brazil (cinema, cenic play, music, poetry, literature). At his side, there were musicians like Caetano Veloso, Gal Costa, Tom Ze, the conductors Rogerio Duprat and Julio Medaglia, and the poets Capinam and Torquato Neto.
in 1969, Gil and Caetano were forced to leave Brazil by the military regime and went to live in London. However, before leaving the country, he sang the beautiful farewell song Aquele Abraco, in a concert they were allowed to give to all fans in Salvador. In London Gil mastered his technique on electric and acoustic guitars, exposed his music to audiences outside Brazil and recorded his first album in English. Back in Brazil in 1972, he recorded Expresso 2222 an album in which he returned to his baiao and samba roots.
After playing at the MIDEM Festival, In 1973, Gil recorded two other albums Ao Vivo ('74) and Gil & Jorge ('75) with singer and composer Jorge Benjor. Then he began his so called "Re-Trilogy" recording the album Refazenda ('75), a tribute to his "sertaneja" music (Brazilian country music) background. The following year, Gil teamed up with Caetano Veloso, Gal Costa and Maria Bethania to tour Brazil under the name of Doces Barbaros. An album and a film by the same name were released. The album Refavela, was released in 1977. This was Gil's effort at melting rhythms from countries like Nigeria and Jamaica with his own from Rio and Bahia. Refestanca, with Rita Lee, was also released in 1977. Gil also began his association with WEA in 1977, signing at the end of that year. In 1978 he went to the U.S. and then recorded Nightingale, an album specially composed for the American market. Gil also released the double live album, Gil in Mountreux, recorded during his performance at the jazz Festicval in Switzerland in the same year. Next, came Gil's first studio album for WEA, Realce, released in 1979, one of his most successful records, ending the Re-trilogy (Refazenda/Refavela/Realce).
In 1980, Gil teamed up with Jimmy Cliff for their first ever tour together in Brazil. Gil's cover song of Bob Marley's hit No woman, no cry (from the Realce album) climbed the Brazilian charts up to number one, for months, selling 700,000 copies (platinum). In the following album, A Gente precisa ver o Luar ('81), one of his most acclaimed records, Gil pursued his experiences of "Refavela" and "Realce" blending elements of the international pop movement with local music expression. In 1982, Gil was back again to the Montreux Jazz Festival, but this time for the Reggae Night, with Jimmy Cliff.
Subsequent albums by Gil includes Um Banda Um ('82), Extra ('81) and Raca Humana ('84). This album had the participation of The Wailers and some recordings have been made in Jamaica.
In 1985, Gil celebrated his 20th career anniversary with the release of the albumn Dia Dorim Noite Neon and with a big event in Sao Paulo called "Gil 20 Anos Luz". This event included live performances by the most important Brazilian singers like Jorge Benjor, Chico Buarque, Roberto Carlos, Caetano Valoso, Gal Costa and Maria Bethania. By then Gil had been already touring Europe and the U.S. for the last five years and went touring Japan for the first time in 1986.
Gilberto Gil em Concerto, recorded live in Rio was released in 1987. The next year Gil decided to dedicate some of his time to Brazilian politics. He moved back to Salvador with his family and took over the presidency of Fundacao Gregorio de Matos (the institution which is responsible for the cultural activitioes and the preservation of the historical landmarks of the city). In 1988 became a member of the Council of the City hall of Salvador where he remained until 1992. In that period he recorded Eterno Deus Mu Danca (1990).
Leaving the City Council in 1992, Gil recorded Parabolicamara The single Madalena hit the streets and became one of the most important songs of the Carnival that year. Parabolicamara marks 25 years of recording success and in a sense, the album's compositions reflect this. "The Parabolic" world tour got off to a block buster start on January 20, 1992, with a spectacular free show on Rio's Copacabana beach for over 80,000 fans. From there, Gil crosses all of Brazil, as well as thoroughly covering Europe, U.S., Japan and other areas. Parabolic footprint really covers the earth.
Gil & Caetano went to the studio and recorded Tropicália 2, released in 1993, to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Tropicália as well as their friendship of 30 years.
In January 94, Gilberto Gil recorded and acoustic album and a home video Unplugged produced by MTV that will be released worlwide in April 94. This album and home video contains several outstanding tracks including big hits like Realce, Esoterico, Super Homem, expresso 2222, Palco and Sitio do Picapau Amarelo. Gilberto Gil has recorded 32 records and had many albums released in sixteen Europenan countries, seven Latin American countries, Israel, Japan, U.S..
First of all, one finds a remarkable rhythmic versatility through his production. He has used northeastern rhythms (xote, xaxado, afoxe, baiao), bossa nova, samba, funk, ballad and other Afro-Bahian cultural expressions, as well as reggae and other Caribbean rhythms. Secondly, a wide variety of themes ranging from human behavior to social issues such as, women's condition, discrimination of blacks and their religions, nature, spirituality, love and music itself, always lyrical, and often critical, irreverent and provocative. The combination of these factors added to his talent the capacity of improvisation, resulting in vigorous performances, with true sessions 0of delight not rarely scented with intimism.
Decorated "Knight of Arts and Letters" by the french minister of Culture, Jack Lang, awarded the Shell and Sharp Prize, as well as Cruz da Ordem de Rio Branco, by Itamarity in Brazil for overall career excellence.
His compositions are performed by representative national and international artists as Elis Regina, Gal Costa, Sergio Mendes, Claude Nugarot, Toots Thielmans, Ernie Watts, Larry Coriel and others.