My folks, my seeds

Eight children, twelve grandchildren, and one great-granddaughter. With such a large family, Gilberto Gil has spread around both his genetic traits and his penchant for music, with each of his descendants demonstrating their musical heritage in a different way.

The first to awaken to the world of music was his eldest daughter, Nara Gil, who, in 1983, recorded the track Preciso de Você, which Gil had written for her to sing on his album Extra.

The following year, his son Pedro (1970-1990) played drums on the LP Raça Humana  and went on to join his father's band, playing at the first Rock in Rio and on other albums such as Dia Dorim Noite Neon.

Maria Gil and Preta Gil also featured on that 1985 album. Maria went on to become Gilberto Gil's assistant while Preta is a hit singer on the Brazilian pop scene.

In 2003, it was the turn of Bem Gil to get involved in his father's career by playing the electric guitar. Later, from the album OK OK OK onwards, he would take charge of producing Gilberto Gil's albums and concerts. On Gil's latest album, his youngest son, José Gil, offered his  talents for the first time, recording and touring with the family patriarch.

In 2014, José got together with his nephews Francisco Gil (Preta's son) and João Gil (Nara's son, who featured on Gilberto Gil's 2008 album Banda Larga Cordel) to set up the band Sinara with their friends Luthuli Ayodele and Magno Brito.

With the Gilsons, José, Francisco, and João take turns on vocals, guitar, and bass.  This format, combined with electronic percussion and programming, gives the band a sound that mixes the classic sound of Brazilian pop music with modern pop tones.

In the same interview, Gil's grandson João (who joined his grandfather on his 2021 European tour) said: "I think that Gil is a huge force for all of us. Our great inspiration. Our great idol, and biggest role model at home."

Gilberto Gil has never hidden his admiration for the singer from Rio and he once said: "After I heard Jorge Ben Jor for the first time, I felt that there was no need for me to carry on writing songs."

Bento's two brothers, Sereno and Dom, and their cousin Nino (Bela Gil's son) are a constant presence at their grandfather's concerts, showing off their dance steps.

Flor Gil, another of Bela's children, has been attracting attention in recent years with her sweet voice. Initially through her performances on social networks and later through her single records.

Her version of her grandfather's classic song Refazenda became the opening theme music for her mother's TV program Refazenda Com Bela Gil on GNT. 

On Gilberto Gil's 2021 European tour, eyes were drawn to the young singer on stage as she played keyboards and percussion. She also sang, even performing a duet with the singer Adriana Calcanhotto.

"They are close, bound by blood ties. They can't help but be part of my environment, my milieu, my ambiance. They're all there, they've grown up in those surroundings, they've experienced the musical world I live in, they've shared in this experience since they were small ...

"… There's also the whole issue of my limited ability for considering and gauging the talents of each one of them when it comes to how to guide them, how to point them more in one direction than another. One sings more, one plays more, one works more backstage ...

"… Even those who don't get up on stage with me are still involved the whole time, for me that's really rewarding. It's calming too because I can see the natural order playing out."