João Gil

João Gil, composer and guitar player, is one of the most renowned names of Portuguese music. His music career began in the 1970s and since then he has founded and participated in numerous projects.

In 1976 he was one of the founding members of Trovante, together with Luís and João Nuno Represas, Artur Rocha and Manuel Faria, authors of the famous song 125 Azul [125 Blue] and one of the first Portuguese bands to sell out Coliseu dos Recreios three days in a row.

In the 1990s Ala dos Namorados is founded as a pilot project by João Gil, João Monge and Manuel Paulo, that had an evolution with the entrance of Nuno Guerreiro and, later, Moz Carrapa. Ala dos Namorados was successful not only in Portugal but beyond borders. Some of its most famous hits are Os Loucos de Lisboa [The Crazy from Lisbon] and Fim do Mundo [End of the World].

In 2005, João Gil presents and leads Filarmónica Gil, to which Nuno Norte and Rui Costa also belong. His 25 years of career are the idea behind this project and gather, once more, the lyrics of João Monge to the music of João Gil. Deixa-te Ficar Na Minha Casa [Stay in my Home] was the most notorious single of the band.

Celebrating 30 years of activity, João Gil releases his first solo album where he interprets songs written and composed by him with some guests.

The latest years have brought two more big projects with João Gil's signature: the Quinteto Lisboa and the Tais Quais.

The Tais Quais intend to recreate the most genuine part of Alentejo's traditional music. The group is formed by Tim, Vitorino, Jorge Palma, João Gil, Celina da Piedade, Paulo Ribeiro and the storyteller and comedian Jorge Serafim. Quinteto Lisboa is a product of João Gil's complicity with João Monge (lyricist). They also invited along José Peixoto (guitar player) and Fernando Júdice (bass player), to which joined the voices of Paulo de Carvalho and Maria Merasarte.

Celebrating 46 years of career, the musician releases 46 JG 22, album composed, written and interpreted entirely by João Gil. Environmental sustainability was also an issue in this new record: its physical edition is produced by recycled materials.

After a few interruptions, the year 2023 marks the return of Ala dos Namorados, with João Gil and Nuno Guerreiro on the wheel. Joining them will be Rúben Alves (piano), Alexandre Frazão (drums), Nelson Cascais (contrabass) and Luís Cunha (trumpet). The band recorded a new album, to be released soon with poems by some of the most prominent Portuguese writers.

In more than 40 years of Portuguese music, João Gil stands out as composer of some of the songs that will, forever, be part of our culture: Saudade [Longing]125 AzulOs Loucos de LisboaPostal dos Correios [Postcard], among many others, are examples of songs with João Gil's signature that became true popularity phenomenons.

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