Gal Costa, legendary Brazilian singer, has died at age 77 after a long battle with diabetes.
Gal Costa became a star with his hit song “Amar Pelos Dois” in 1971. The song went on to sell 3 billion copies, making him the best-selling Latin artist in history and one of the biggest-selling artists ever by sales. He is also one of the most successful Latin American singers in history.
Brazilian legend: Gal Costa, the legendary singer, has died at age 77
He sang the song in French and Spanish languages as well as Portuguese when he performed in Las Vegas in 2014. He also participated in the Miss Universo 1964 pageant, and won.
Born Luis Fernando Cardoso Leite in Rio de Janeiro on March 24, 1946 to Brazilian singer and composer Eduardo Cardoso and Margarida Gagliardo Cardoso, Gal Costa grew up singing in his neighborhood and sang in the church. He won the talent contest at the age of 12, when he placed 10th.
He began performing in nightclubs and street corners. In 1960, he was discovered by the Brazilian rock band Os Culs, and they took him into their studio. He was discovered by Nelson Riddle in 1966, when he was working for the Riddle record label.
He first gained fame around 1970 with his rendition of “Ya Es Nuevo” in Portuguese for “You’re New” by Bob Marley. In 1971, he released his song “Amar Pelos Dois,” which went on to sell 3 billion copies, making him the best-selling Latin artist in history and one of the biggest-selling artists ever by sales.
Gal Costa
More than just a singer, he was also a dancer, a choreographer, a singer-songwriter, a music producer, a TV host and a fashion designer. He also directed his own acting school to teach thousands of aspiring actors how to act.
He released several albums on Atlantic Records, but only one