The Brazilian musician Sergio Mendesone of the leading representatives of bossa nova, died this Friday at the age of 83 in the United States, his relatives confirmed.
Sérgio Mendes, who died in Los Angeles, had been facing for months respiratory problems caused by the long-term effects of covid, according to a statement on the artist’s social media, reported a statement on the artist’s social media.
His last tour ended in November 2023 and the tickets have been sold in cities like Paris, London and Barcelona, according to his official Instagram account.
The pianist, known worldwide for a version of the song More than anything. of Jorge Ben Jor, and who mixed samba and jazz in his compositions, was an important ambassador of Brazilian music in the United States, where he settled in 1964 after the military coup.
Throughout his career, with more than 35 albums released, Sérgio Mendes has won three Grammys and been nominated for six others, in addition to being included in the Latin Composers Hall of Fame.
Abandoned by his mother, Sérgio Mendes studied music at the conservatory in his hometown of Niterói, Brazil, hoping to become a classical pianist. As his interest in jazz grew, he began playing in nightclubs in the 1950s, the era in which jazz was born. bossa nova. He played with Antônio Carlos Jobim (considered Mendes’ teacher) and many American jazz musicians who visited Brazil.
While training, Sérgio Mendes came into contact with the bossa nova of Tom Jobim And Joao Gilbertowhich will leave a permanent mark on their music.
Later, in 1961, he founded the Bossa Rio Sextet and I recorded the album Modern dance. Touring Europe and the United States, he recorded albums with Cannonball Adderley, Herbie Mann and he even played at Carnegie Hall. He settled permanently in the United States in 1964, where he enjoyed great popularity and even gave concerts for Presidents Lyndon B. Johnson and Richard Nixon. His most important success was a version of Jorge Ben Jor’s song: More than anything. The year 2006 will achieve this success with Black-eyed peas. He participated in the creation of the soundtrack of the film Río, released in 2011,
He was married to the Brazilian singer Gracinha Leporace, with whom he also had musical collaborations.
