Gilberto Gil
Awards & Honours
30
Awards Won
10
Honours
6
Rankings
5
Covers
3
Records
Gilberto Gil is one of the most decorated figures in Brazilian music. He is one of only a handful of Brazilian artists to win multiple Grammy Awards, and his Polar Music Prize in 2012 placed him alongside legends like Bob Dylan and Paul McCartney. He was the first Brazilian to be named Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year (2015), a recognition of his artistic and humanitarian contributions. His albums have won three Latin Grammys and numerous Prêmio da Música Brasileira awards, including two lifetime achievement honors. In 2005, he was made an honorary Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire, and in 2018 he received an honorary doctorate from Berklee College of Music.
Awards
Honours & Distinctions
Order of Cultural Merit (Brazil)
Awarded for contributions to Brazilian culture.
UNESCO Artist for Peace
Appointed for promoting peace through music.
Honorary Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE)
Honorary knighthood for services to music.
Polar Music Prize
Shared with Yo-Yo Ma; awarded for exceptional achievements in music.
Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year
Honored for artistic and philanthropic work.
Berklee College of Music Honorary Doctorate
Honorary Doctor of Music.
Order of Prince Henry (Portugal) – Grand Cross
Awarded for cultural contributions.
Induction into the Latin Songwriters Hall of Fame
Recognized for lifetime achievement in songwriting.
Key to the City of Salvador
Honorary key presented by the city.
Key to the City of Rio de Janeiro
Honorary key presented by the city.
Rankings & Lists
100 Greatest Brazilian Musicians
100 Greatest Brazilian Albums
Greatest Brazilian Artists of All Time
100 Most Influential People
50 Greatest Brazilian Songs
100 Greatest Latin Artists
Magazine Covers
TIME Magazine
April 2004
Gilberto Gil: Brazil's Cultural Revolution
Rolling Stone Brazil
October 2005
Gilberto Gil: The Minister of Music
Vanity Fair (Latin America)
March 2012
Gilberto Gil: The Man Who Changed Brazilian Music
GQ Brazil
June 2017
Gilberto Gil: 75 Years of Rhythm
The New York Times Magazine
December 2003
Brazil's Minister of Cool
Records & Feats
First Brazilian artist to perform at the Nobel Peace Prize Concert
Gil performed at the Nobel Peace Prize Concert in 2011, the first Brazilian to do so.
First Brazilian Minister of Culture from the music industry
Gil served as Brazil's Minister of Culture from 2003 to 2008, the first musician to hold the post.
Most Grammy wins by a Brazilian MPB artist
Gil has won two Grammy Awards and three Latin Grammy Awards, the most of any MPB artist.