Astrud Gilberto, the “Girl from Ipanema” singer who helped popularize bossa nova music, has died

CNN
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Brazilian singer Astrud Gilberto, who recorded the song “The Girl from Ipanema” in her twenties and became an international star, has passed away, according to her posts on social media. granddaughter And on behalf of her son.

The cause of death was not immediately available. She was reportedly 83 years old.

“I am here to give you the sad news that my grandmother became a star today and next to my grandfather Joao Gilberto. Astrud was the real girl who took the bossa nova from Ipanema into the world,” Gilberto’s granddaughter Sofia said on her Instagram page.

Paul Ritchie, a guitarist who previously worked with Gilberto, posted a message on his Facebook page on Tuesday from Gilberto’s son Marcelo, who also played bass alongside his mother in the early 1980s.

“I have just received word from her son Marcelo that we have lost Astrud Gilberto. He asked for this to be published. She was an important part of all Brazilian music in the world and changed the lives of many with her energy. Richie RIP’s statement reads from ‘The President’ as she called me.

According to her Official WebsiteGilberto grew up in Rio de Janeiro and immigrated to the United States in the early 1960s.

In 1963, she was invited to participate by her then-husband Joao Gilberto in the recording of an album for him and Stan Getz. The short recording of English-language poetry, unintelligible and something of a surprise to Gilberto, catapulted her into international stardom, with the album winning four Grammy Awards.

“The Girl from Ipanema” has been covered countless times by music greats, from Eartha Kitt and Frank Sinatra to Cher and Amy Winehouse.

Gilberto has released no fewer than 16 original albums dating back to her 1964 debut, which was titled “Getz Au Go Go”. Gilberto went on to record a song on the soundtrack to the 1965 movie “The Deadly Affair”, for which the music was arranged by Quincy Jones.

During the 1970s, Gilberto became known for her songwriting, releasing the 1972 album “Astrud Gilberto Now” and 1977’s “That Girl From Ipanema”, the latter of which included a duet with famed jazz musician Chet Baker on the track titled “Far Away”. ”

The 1980s and 1990s proved to be a prolific period for the artist, who formed a sextet with several musicians—including her son Marcelo on bass—and toured the world. She later released the critically acclaimed album ‘Astrud Gilberto Plus the James Last Orchestra’ in 1987.

When Gilberto partnered with English singer-songwriter George Michael, one of the best-selling musicians of all time, Gilberto gained international fame once again. The duet “Desafinado” was released in 1996, and Gilberto is known for exposing the bossa nova genre to a mainstream pop-music-loving audience.

Gilberto released her latest album, “Jungle,” in 2002, and went on to be inducted into the International Latin Music Hall of Fame that same year. In 2008, the Latin Recording Academy awarded her a Lifetime Achievement Award.

“I loved and will forever love Astrud and she was the face and voice of bossa nova in most parts of the planet,” Gilberto’s granddaughter Sofia said in her statement Tuesday, adding that Astrud “will forever be in our hearts.”