Brazilian musician Sérgio Mendes passes away aged 83

Brazilian musician Sérgio Mendes, who popularized bossa nova worldwide in the 1960s with his band Brasil ’66, has died at the age of 83 due to complications from long-term Covid. Mendes’s family announced that he “passed away peacefully” in Los Angeles, surrounded by his wife of 54 years, Gracinha Leporace Mendes, and their children. Despite his health struggles, Mendes performed to sold-out crowds in Paris, London, and Barcelona as recently as November 2023.

Born on February 11, 1941, in Niterói, Brazil, Mendes initially studied classical piano, encouraged by his doctor father, but ultimately pursued jazz after showing early talent and passion. Starting his career in Rio’s nightclubs in the late 1950s, Mendes was mentored by Antônio Carlos Jobim and released his first album, Dance Moderno, in 1961. Moving to Los Angeles in 1964, he formed Brasil ’65, which later evolved into Brasil ’66, and achieved international success with hits like “Mas que Nada.”

Mendes became a global ambassador for bossa nova, performing for U.S. presidents and at international events like the Japan World Expo in 1970. He continued to record and tour throughout the 1970s and 1980s, scoring another major hit in 1983 with “Never Gonna Let You Go.” In 2006, Mendes released the album Timeless, produced by will.i.am of the Black Eyed Peas, which featured collaborations with artists like Stevie Wonder and Justin Timberlake.

Mendes also contributed music to the animated films Rio and Rio 2, earning an Oscar nomination for the song “Real in Rio” in 2012, and won a Grammy for best world album with Brasileiro in 1992. His final album, In the Key of Joy, was released in 2019. Mendes is survived by his wife Gracinha and their five children.

Music by Yevhen Onoychenko from Pixabay