Bossa Nova Legend Sergio Mendes Period

Brazilian musician Sérgio Mendes has died on the age of 83, his household has confirmed.

The bandleader and songwriter is finest identified for the upbeat Latin pop track “Mas Que Nada,” and has added Brazilian touches to English-language songs resembling “The Look Of Love” and The Beatles’ “The Idiot On The Hill.” .

Mendes has recorded greater than 35 albums, lots of which have been licensed gold or platinum in the US; in 2012, he was nominated for an Oscar for co-writing the track “Actual in Rio” from the animated movie Rio.

Mendes “handed away peacefully” on Thursday in Los Angeles, surrounded by his spouse and kids, his household mentioned in a press release.

No official reason for demise was given, however Mendes’ household mentioned he had suffered from COVID-19 for a very long time, and it was reported that the musician had been affected by the respiratory sickness since late 2023.

The household’s assertion mentioned Mendes “introduced the joyous sounds of his native Brazil to the world.”

“Mendez’s final efficiency was in November 2023. The exhibits in Paris, London and Barcelona have been all bought out and the venues have been very welcoming.

“Over the previous few months, his well being has been challenged by the results of long-term COVID-19.”

The assertion concluded by saying that Mendes “has left us an unimaginable musical legacy by way of greater than six a long time of distinctive sound.”

The son of a health care provider, Mendes was born in Niterói, Brazil, the place he initially studied classical piano and aspired to change into a live performance pianist.

However his life modified in 1956, when he heard American musician Dave Brubeck’s first jazz document, Take 5, and gave up his research.

“For me, I’d say, that was one of many unimaginable moments of my life,” In 2014, he advised NPR“As a result of once I heard the information, I did not know something about jazz or something.”

When the bossa nova craze took off, he started performing in nightclubs in Rio de Janeiro and commenced to immerse himself in that scene together with different luminaries resembling Antonio Carlos Jobim and João Gilberto.

His first document, Dance Moderno, was launched in 1961 on Philips Information.

Three years later, he left Brazil for the US to flee navy dictatorship—but it surely was not a straightforward transition.

His Brazilian bandmates returned residence, forcing Mendes to type a brand new band. It was known as Brasil ’66 and starred two American singers, Lani Corridor and Karen Philip.

Signed to A&M Information, they discovered a profitable system – combining jazzy renditions of Brazilian pop songs with samba-rich variations of present hits.

their first main success however nothinga sun-kissed cowl of Jorge Ben’s unique, stuffed with finger clicks, rocking rockers and impassioned choruses that sing out the urge to bop.

Mendes later recalled, “There was one thing very magical about this track.” “Folks all around the world love this track.”

It was the primary Portuguese track to change into a worldwide hit; and propelled Brasil ’66’s self-titled debut album into the highest ten of the US charts.

Mendes perfected the mix of Western melodies and Brazilian rhythms on later recordings, together with Simon and Garfunkel’s “Scarborough Truthful” and Otis Redding’s “Dock of the Bay.”

When he covers Beatles songs idiot on the mountain On the 1967 album Look Round, Paul McCartney wrote a letter to Mendes telling him it was his favourite model of the track.

Though his music was thought of “straightforward listening” on the time, he turned extraordinarily widespread, touring on stage and performing on the White Home for Presidents Lyndon Johnson and Richard Nixon.

He continuously appeared on tv with artists resembling Perry Como, Jerry Lewis, Fred Astaire and Frank Sinatra, with whom he developed shut friendships.

Within the Nineteen Seventies he re-formed his personal band Brasil ’77, however his business fortunes progressively waned till his 1983 comeback album Sergio Mendes gave him the most important hit single of his profession – a canopy of Dionne Warwick’s traditional songs Won’t ever allow you to go.

The track’s success was virtually unintended, as Mendes solely added the track to his repertoire on the final minute.

“Each different track on the album was very festive. I wanted a ballad on the album simply to vary the tempo a bit bit,” he advised Billboard’s Grownup Up to date Sizzling Songs chart.

In 1992 he gained a Grammy for the album Brasileiro, which included a number of tracks with the younger percussionist and singer Carlinhos Brown, now Turned one in every of Brazil’s most well-known musicians.

Their collaboration contains magalenha – a joyful track pushed by the energetic sounds of Bahian percussionists on the streets of Rio – rapidly turned a Latin commonplace.

Twenty years later, in 2012, the pair acquired an Oscar nomination for his or her rating for Rio.

In 1997, “Mas Que Nada” was included on the soundtrack of Mike Myers’ Austin Powers, introducing Mendes to a complete new viewers, and by the early 2000s, most of his Previous titles have been re-released for brand new followers.

Across the identical time, Mendes started incorporating parts of hip-hop into his sound, collaborating with the Black Eyed Peas on a brand new model of Mas Que Nada and recording songs with rappers resembling Frequent and Q-Tip.

Mendes additionally made a cameo in Pharrell Williams’ 24-hour “Blissful”; and acquired a Lifetime Achievement Award on the 2005 Latin Grammy Awards.

Sergio Mendes within the movie of his life, Key to Pleasure – launched alongside a brand new album in 2020 – has solely lately continued to play stay, together with on the London Jazz Pageant final October.

Mendes sums up his musical philosophy as soon as mentioned: “Once I consider Brazilian music, the primary phrases that come to my thoughts are pleasure, celebration, get together… I believe that is in step with the final spirit of the folks.”

The musician is survived by his spouse Gracinha Leporace, who sang on lots of his recordings. He additionally has 5 kids.