Sergio Mendes Dies: Brought Bossa Nova To The Masses
Sergio Mendes, the Brazilian-born pianist, composer and arranger for his ensemble, Brasil ’66, died on Thursday in Los Angeles. He was 83.
His death came from complications caused by long Covid, his family said.
Mendes released more than 30 albums, won three Grammys and was nominated for an Academy Award in 2012 for best original song as co-writer of “Real in Rio,” from the animated film Rio. He also won a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.
His breakout in the U.S. with Brasil ’66 came on the the single “Mas Que Nada,” written by the Brazilian singer-songwriter, Jorge Ben.
The group’s adult contemporary cool in the 1960s was at-odds with the youth culture, but it found its niche as a pop alternative. The album“Herb Alpert Presents Sergio Mendes & Brasil ’66,” quickly went gold on the strength of “Mas Que Nada” and other tracks, including “Going Out of My Head,” and “One-Note Samba.”
In 2011, the album was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.
“Their sound was captivating,” Mr. Alpert reflected in the documentary, “a hybrid of Brazilian music, a little bit of jazz, folk, African, blues. It had all of those elements. And then, to top it off, it had this fabulous singer, Lani Hall. I just fell in love with the sound. It was very, very, unusually special.”
Mendes is survived by his wife of 50 years, Gracinha Leporace, their two children, Tiago and Gustavo; and three children from a first marriage that ended in divorce: Bernardo, Rodrigo and Isabella; and seven grandchildren.