17 Facts About Gal Costa

Gal Costa was born Maria da Graca Costa Penna Burgos on 26 September 1945, in the city of Salvador, the capital of the state of Bahia, Brazil.

At the age of 10, Gal befriended sisters Sandra and Andreia Gadelha, the future spouses of singer-songwriters Gilberto Gil and Caetano Veloso, respectively.

Gal Costa then went on to work as a clerk in Salvador's main record store to get closer to music.

Gal Costa jokingly said "Gal: Guilherme Araujo Limited" and she agreed to use this respelling of her nickname.

Gal Costa debuted her professional career on the night of 22 August 1964 at the concert Nos, por exemplo, where she performed alongside Veloso, Gil, Maria Bethania and Tom Ze, among others.

Gal Costa then left Salvador to live in the house of her cousin Nivea in Rio de Janeiro, following in the footsteps of Bethania, whose concert Opiniao had become a huge hit there.

Gal Costa then released her first singles through RCA Records, "Eu vim da Bahia", written by Gil, and "Sim, foi voce", written by Veloso.

Gal Costa stayed on the label, which later became PolyGram, until 1983.

In 1965, Gal Costa began to record inedited songs from Gilberto Gil and Caetano Veloso.

In 1968, Gal Costa became a part of the tropicalia movement.

Gal Costa recorded four songs on Tropicalia: ou Panis et Circenses.

In 1969, Gal Costa released her eponymous solo debut album, which included "Baby" and "Divino Maravilhoso".

Gal Costa has recorded songs composed by a number of Brazil's most popular songwriters such as Tom Jobim, Ben and Erasmo Carlos.

Gal Costa is portrayed by Sophie Charlotte in the 2023 biographical film Meu nome e Gal.

In 2011, Gal Costa received the Latin Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.

Gal Costa died in Sao Paulo on 9 November 2022, at the age of 77.

Gal Costa was honored posthumously at the 2022 Latin Grammy Awards.