RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) 鈥� Singer Gal Costa, an icon in the Tropicalia and Brazilian popular music movements who enjoyed a nearly six-decade career, died on Wednesday. She was 77.
Her death was confirmed by a press representative, who provided no further information.
The soprano with wild curls of dark hair was best known for lending her unique voice to compositions such as Ary Barroso鈥檚 鈥淎quarela do Brasil鈥� (Watercolor of Brazil), Tom Jobim鈥檚 鈥淒indi,鈥� Jorge Ben Jor鈥檚 鈥淨ue Pena鈥� (What a Shame) and Caetano Veloso鈥檚 鈥淏aby.鈥�
鈥淕al Costa was among the world鈥檚 best singers, among our principal artists to carry the name and sounds of Brazil to the whole planet,鈥� President-elect Luiz In谩cio da Silva wrote on Twitter alongside a photo of him hugging her. 鈥淗er talent, technique and courage enriched and renewed our culture, cradled and marked the lives of millions of Brazilians.鈥�
Costa was born Maria da Gra莽a Penna Burgos in the northeastern state of Bahia and came onto the scene alongside future legends Veloso, Gilberto Gil, and Maria Beth芒nia.
All were already successful solo artists when they formed the band Doces B谩rbaros. Their joint side project became an important counterculture reference during Brazil鈥檚 two-decade military dictatorship, inspiring a record, tour and documentary.
In 2011, Costa was awarded a Latin Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.
She remained an active performer until nearly the end, having recently suspended shows to undergo a surgery on one of her nostrils. Her next concert had been scheduled for Dec. 17, in Sao Paulo.
David Biller, The Associated Press
