Gilberto Gil

Gilberto Gil is a Grammy award-winning singer, guitarist, environmentalist and politician. Between 2003 and 2008, he served as Brazil’s Minister of Culture on the invitation of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. He stepped down from the post to focus on his music career. He incorporates a wide range of styles in his music and has won many international awards.

Gil was born in 1946 in the northeast of Brazil. He had an intense love of music from the age of two. He grew up listening to local street performers and taught himself to play the drum and trumpet. His mother developed his musical talents by sending him to music school. He learnt to play the guitar after being inspired by Joao Gilberto.