Gilmar Gomes was born in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil in 1978. He began playing percussion on the streets at the age of 8. By his 9 th birthday, he started playing with one of the most traditional afroband in Bahia, the grupo muzenza, which lasted for about 2 years. From 91 to 96, Gilmar played with several artists well known in the bahias scene, such as Marcia Sort, Carlinhos Cor Das Aguas, Margareth Menezes, Banda Reflexus to name a few. By the age of 17, he started performing and recording with Daniela Mercury, as well as Carlinhos Brown, Yvete Sangalo & Banda Eva, Netinho, Milton Nascimento and Caetano Veloso, having performed also in Europe with these bands, during which he found time to perform all over Brazil with his own band, Dr. Cevada. In 2001, Gilmar relocated to New York City per request of Angelique Kidjo, being discovered by Enrique Iglesias on that same year. Since then, he became a fixture on Enrique Iglesias band, Harry Belafonte, Yerba Buena, MeShell NDegeocello, Richard Bona, Bebel Gilberto and Forro in The Dark, also had shared the stage with, Manu Di Bango, Trilok Gurtu, Carlos Santana, Eliane Elias, Baaba Maal, Joe Zawinul, Gilberto Gil, and several others, playing and recording as well.