Gal Costa, influential Brazilian singer, dies aged 77

The singer, who was a main part of the Tropicalia movement, had recently canceled an appearance at a music festival after surgery

Gal Costa, the influential Brazilian singer who was one of the principal figures in the Tropicalia movement of the 1960s, died on Wednesday, her public relations agency confirmed. She was 77.

No cause of death was immediately provided. The singer, who lived in Sao Paulo, had recently canceled a concert at a local music festival on advice from her doctor, after surgery in September to remove a nodule from her right nasal cavity. She had been expected to return to the stage in Sao Paulo in December, according to tour dates listed on her website.