One of the greatest voices of Brazilian popular music, Gal Costa, passed away this Wednesday at the age of 77.
The cause of her surprise death is still unknown: the singer was active, participating in professional commitments and even had a concert scheduled for the next few days.
The information was confirmed by his team in a post published on his social networks: "It is with deep sadness and a heavy heart that we communicate the death of the singer Gal Costa, on the morning of this Wednesday, November 9, in Sao Paulo. We appreciate the darling at this difficult time.
Iconic and with an unmistakable voice that became a hallmark of the MPB (Brazilian popular music), she performed songs that became hymns like
Aquarela do Brasil
by composer Ary Barroso or hits like
Baby
or
Coração Vagabundo
by renowned Caetano Veloso, who was her friend since youth.
Both legends together with another one –the singer, musician and composer Gilberto Gil– formed a brotherhood that continues until today.
"One of the best singers in the world"
“Our little sister left (...) The voice of a goddess, of extraordinary singing, which was always her mark, goes with her.
The
saudade
, the sadness, the regret stays with us, ”reacted Gil.
They were her friends for decades, he called her 'Gaúcha':
"Now her song stays with us for the rest of our lives, for all of our history."
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Their families were very close.
Costa was the godmother of her daughter Preta Gil, also a singer, who thanked her on her Instagram account: "Thank you for everything my muse."
The networks were flooded with reactions in Brazil: "My extraordinary friend, the greatest singer of MPB, people never say goodbye to the eternal ones," reacted the singer Daniela Mercury.
President-elect Luiz Inácio 'Lula' da Silva wrote on Twitter that Costa was "one of the best singers in the world."
Younger musicians and singers, such as Ze Ibarra, also mourned his passing.
"I think of everything you did for us, the greatest inspiration among the greatest. The clean voice, the perfect melodies, the revolutionary attitude, the poisonous beauty. You were all that and more for us (...) I love you, Gal" , wrote.
Gal Costa was born with the name of Maria da Graça Penna Burgos in the state of Bahia, in the northeast region of the country.
Both she and Veloso, Gil and Maria Bethânia were already successful solo singers when they formed the band Doce Bárbaros, as highlighted by the AP agency.
The project became an important counterculture reference during the two decades of the military dictatorship in Brazil, inspiring an album, a tour and a documentary.
Costa received the Latin Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2011.
He remained active until his last days.
In recent days he suspended his concerts due to nose surgery.
His next show was scheduled for December 17 in São Paulo.
