Gal Costa

Gal Costa was in many ways the first lady of Brazilian music. She was a creative rebel who, as a key part of the Tropicália movement of the late ‘60s and early '70s, espoused a countercultural aesthetic that advanced Brazilian pop beyond bossa nova and samba into challenging new territory. Her big, bold style found her belting out melodies diva-style one moment and indulging in psychedelic, avant-garde experiments the next. In the '80s, like many of her peers, the prolific vocalist explored a glossier, often jazz-influenced contemporary-pop sound, but soon returned to her roots and rediscovered the soul and sophistication of traditional bossa nova in her later years. Costa died in November 2022 at the age of 77.