Sérgio Mendes, the influential Brazillian bossa nova and jazz legend, has died at age 83.
A statement shared on his official social media pages said that he “passed away peacefully” on September 5. “His wife and musical partner for the past 54 years, Gracinha Leporace Mendes, was by his side, as were his loving children,” it says.
No official cause of death has been given, however, the statement shares that his health had been challenged by the effects of long-term covid.
“The family is processing this loss and more details regarding funeral and memorial services will be provided at a later date,” the statement concludes.
Mendes gained international success popularising Brazillian music and remains one of the most successful artists from the country of all time. His composition ‘Mas Que Nada’ was credited with introducing bossa nova to a global audience in the 1960s.
During his seven-decade-long career, he recorded over 30 albums and won three Grammy awards. He was also nominated for an Oscar in 2012 for co-writing the song ‘Real in Rio’ from the animated film Rio.
Mendes was born in Niterói, close to the city of Rio de Janeiro, on 11 February 1941. As a child, he studied classical piano but eventually developed a keen interest in jazz.
In the 50s he began playing music in Rio’s nightclubs, eventually forming the bossa nova band Sexeto Bossa Rio. They released their debut album ‘Dance Moderno’ in 1961.
With Mendes developing a name for himself within the bossa nova and jazz scenes, many American musicians sought him out as a collaborator when visiting Brazil, including the American jazz greats Cannonball Adderly and Herbie Mann who invited Mendes to play on their respective albums.
Three years after releasing his debut album, he moved to Los Angeles, signed with Capitol Records and formed the band Brasil ’65.
The group released three albums before recruiting singers, Lani Hall and Bibi Vogel, to sing in English. They renamed themselves Brasil ’66 and went on to release the single ‘Mas Que Nada’, which Mendes would eventually re-record with the Black Eyed Peas in 2006.
Mendes continued to release music through the 70s and 80s, culminating in his 1983 hit ‘Never Gonna Let You Go’ — a cover of the Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil.
In the 2000s, Mendes’ music was adopted by underground rap scenes, with his songs being sampled in many records. It spurred his comeback in 2006 with the album ‘Timeless’, produced by the Black Eyed Peas’s will.i.am. The album featured guest appearances from Erykah Badu, Q-Tip, Stevie Wonder and Justin Timberlake.
Mendes last performed in November last year, selling out venues in Paris, London and Barcelona.