Gilberto Gil, Brazilian star, hospitalised again

Brazilian music star Gilberto Gil was hospitalised on Tuesday in Sao Paulo to be treated for a kidney problem, a medical source said.

It was the latest in a series of hospital visits this year for the 74-year-old singer and former culture minister.

A source at the Syrian Lebanese Hospital said that Gil was admitted there on Tuesday.

Brazilian media citing sources close to Gil said he was in hospital for tests and ongoing treatment.

Three days ago, he cancelled a concert in Rio de Janeiro due to his illness.

His representatives said then that he would “soon be back on stage.”

Gil was discharged from hospital in July in time to perform at the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in Rio on August 5.

Gil is one of the seminal figures of Brazilian music. He fused traditional samba with jazz and rock to help create the unique tropicalia sound during the 1960s.

He served as Brazil’s culture minister from 2003 to 2008.