The end of the 50's: bossa nova is a revolution in Brazilian music. Gil hears João Gilberto on the radio. The effect of João's beat in Gil is powerful. He soon abandons the accordion and takes up the guitar. At the beginning of the 60's he is already composing. At this time he is also making jingles, singing on local TV - and studying Business Administration at the Bahia University. This University was then undergoing a period of cultural effervescence, promoting important vanguard events, like the Music Seminary, directed by professor and composer H.J. Koellreutter. That is when Gil first comes into contact with contemporary erudite music. It is also in this phase that the composer and singer's phonographic history starts. In 1962 he has his first song, "Bem Devagar" (Very slowly), recorded with the Três Baianas, a vocal group. And in 1963 he records and releases two records: a double (EP), "Gilberto Gil - sua música, sua interpretação" (Gilberto Gil - his music, his interpretation), containing four songs written by him; and a single with a samba, "Decisão" (Decision), also by him. At the end of the same year another significant fact occurs, he meets Caetano Veloso and soon after the singers, Maria Bethânia and Gal Costa. In June of 1964, the four of them - and Tom Zé and other musicians from Bahia - do a show together, "Nós, por exemplo" (Us, for example), that opens the Vila Velha Theater in Salvador. This show marks the first step in the career of these artists. Besides singing and playing his own songs, Gil also does the musical direction of the show, with Roberto Santana. Almost a year later he does his first individual show, "Inventário" (Inventory), directed by Caetano and also at the Vila Velha Theater. By now Gil is ready to start a new chapter in his life. Having graduated from university he has a job waiting for him in São Paulo, at Gessy Lever, and leaves the work he's had since 1962 as a customs inspector in Salvador. On the 29th of May he marries Belina, his muse and girlfriend of three years' standing. A few days later the newly-weds head south.
