If you don't know the music of Brasil's Minister of Culture, Soy Loco Por Ti America is as good as any place to start. Gilberto Gil was exiled from his country by the Brazilian dictatorship in the 60's, and in exile he wrote the beautiful celebration of Rio de Janeiro's beauty, "Aquele Abraco", which starts off this record.

He has made it his mission to develop lesser known cultural communities throughout Brasil, as explained in this CNN.com article.

There is a nice photo portrait of the Minister/Pop Star here.