Pianist Sergio Mendes, a Brazilian music legend who popularized bossa nova around the world, died at the age of 83 in Los Angeles, his family announced on Friday, September 6, sparking a wave of tributes.
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Brazilian pianist Sergio Mendes performs in concert in Rotterdam, Netherlands, on July 9, 2011. Photo: AFP/VNA/CVN
Sergio Mendes “died peacefully” on Thursday, September 5 at his home in Los Angeles, surrounded by his wife and children, his family explained in a statement.
“In recent months, his health had been affected by the effects of prolonged COVID,” she added.
Mendes has recorded more than 35 albums and toured with major American artists such as Frank Sinatra.
In 1966, he had achieved international success with his album Sergio Mendes & Brasil 66 and the famous Mas Que Nada, an adaptation of a song by Brazilian artist Jorge Ben.
And in 1993, he won the Grammy Award for Best World Music Album for Brasileiro, which featured several tracks by Brazilian singer and percussionist Carlinhos Brown.
“Rest in peace, dear genius,” wrote Milton Nascimento, an icon of Brazilian popular music and one of the first celebrities to react to Mendes’ death, on Instagram, hailing “many years of friendship, collaborations and music.”
“In this moment of sadness, my thoughts go to the family, friends and fans of Sergio Mendes,” reacted Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula de Silva, according to whom he was “one of the greatest representatives and promoters of (Brazilian) music and culture throughout the world.”
Brazilian composer and former Minister of Culture Gilberto Gil paid tribute on Instagram to “an icon of Brazilian music”, while the singer of the Black Eyed Peas, rapper Will.i.am, posted a photo of himself and Mendes accompanied by the text “An eternal friendship”. The American group had remixed his song Mas Que Nada in 2006.
“Brazilian Roots”
Launched onto the Brazilian scene in the early 1960s, at the height of the bossa nova wave, Sergio Mendes quickly rose to fame.
His talents as a pianist and composer of arrangements aroused the interest of Antonio Carlos Jobim.
Brazilian pianist Sergio Mendes in Los Angeles, February 10, 2012. Photo: AFP/VNA/CVN
His mastery of jazz impressed and the American saxophonist Cannonball Adderley chose his group, “Sexteto Rio”, to record the album Cannonball’s Bossa Nova in 1963.
Throughout his career, Mendes has continued to exploit the inexhaustible vein of captivating music, in which he skillfully mixed the cadence of samba, the groove of jazz, the subtle vocal harmonies of bossa nova and the refinement of Californian pop.
But behind the famous musician and the commercial aspect of his songs, sometimes bordering on “easy listening”, hides an artist with great spontaneity.
“I am very curious, I like to learn,” Sergio Mendes confided during an interview with AFP in Paris in 2014.
“The roots of my music are Brazilian. In Brazil, we have a beautiful cultural and musical diversity, between the music of Bahia, Rio de Janeiro, classical music, African rhythms,” recalled the man who was nominated for an Oscar in 2012 in the category of Best Original Song for Real in Rio, music from the animated film Rio.
AFP/VNA/CVN
What were the key contributions of Sergio Mendes to the bossa nova genre?
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Sergio Mendes: A Brazilian Music Legend Who Popularized Bossa Nova Around the World
The music world is mourning the loss of Sergio Mendes, a Brazilian pianist, composer, and arranger who played a pivotal role in popularizing bossa nova music globally. On September 6, 2024, Mendes passed away at the age of 83 in Los Angeles, surrounded by his family. This legendary musician’s passing has sparked a wave of tributes from fellow artists, fans, and even the President of Brazil, Luiz Inacio Lula de Silva.
Early Life and Career
Sergio Mendes was born on February 11, 1941, in Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He began his music career in the early 1960s, during the height of the bossa nova wave. Mendes’ talents as a pianist and composer of arrangements quickly gained recognition, and he was soon sought after by renowned musicians such as Antonio Carlos Jobim [1]. His mastery of jazz impressed American saxophonist Cannonball Adderley, who chose Mendes’ group, “Sexteto Rio”, to record the album Cannonball’s Bossa Nova in 1963.
International Success
Mendes achieved international success with his album Sergio Mendes & Brasil 66 in 1966, which featured the famous song “Mas Que Nada”, an adaptation of a song by Brazilian artist Jorge Ben. This album marked the beginning of his global recognition, and he went on to record over 35 albums, tour with major American artists like Frank Sinatra, and win a Grammy Award for Best World Music Album for Brasileiro in 1993 [2].
Musical Style and Legacy
Mendes’ music was a unique blend of samba, jazz, bossa nova, and Californian pop. He skillfully mixed the cadence of samba, the groove of jazz, the subtle vocal harmonies of bossa nova, and the refinement of Californian pop to create a captivating sound that resonated with audiences worldwide. Throughout his career, Mendes continued to exploit the inexhaustible vein of captivating music, earning him the title of one of the biggest crossover Brazilian pop artists of his generation [2].
Tributes and Legacy
News of Mendes’ passing has sparked an outpouring of tributes from fellow artists, fans, and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula de Silva. Milton Nascimento, an icon of Brazilian popular music, wrote on Instagram, “Rest in peace, dear genius. Many years of friendship, collaborations, and music.” Brazilian composer and former Minister of Culture Gilberto Gil paid tribute to “an icon of Brazilian music”, while rapper Will.i.am posted a photo of himself and Mendes, accompanied by the text “An eternal friendship” [3].
Sergio Mendes’ legacy extends beyond his music. He was a cultural ambassador, promoting Brazilian music and culture globally. His passing is a great loss to the music world, but his music and legacy will continue to inspire and entertain generations to come.
Sergio Mendes, Brazilian Bossa Nova Legend, Dies at 83
The music world is in mourning as Brazilian pianist, composer, and arranger Sergio Mendes passed away on Thursday, September 5, at the age of 83, in Los Angeles[[[1][2][3]]. Mendes was a legendary figure in Brazilian music, known for popularizing bossa nova around the world.
Mendes “died peacefully” at his home in Los Angeles, surrounded by his wife and children, his family explained in a statement[[[1]]. In recent months, his health had been affected by the effects of prolonged COVID[[[1]].
Throughout his illustrious career, Mendes recorded more than 35 albums and toured with major American artists such as Frank Sinatra[[[1]]. In 1966, he achieved international success with his album Sergio Mendes & Brasil 66 and the famous Mas Que Nada, an adaptation of a song by Brazilian artist Jorge Ben[[[1]]. He also won the Grammy Award for Best World Music Album for Brasileiro in 1993, which featured several tracks by Brazilian singer and percussionist Carlinhos Brown[[[1]].
Mendes’ passing has sparked a wave of tributes from the music world. Milton Nascimento, an icon of Brazilian popular music, wrote on Instagram, “Rest in peace, dear genius,” hailing “many years of friendship, collaborations and music”[[[1]]. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula de Silva reacted, “In this moment of sadness, my thoughts go to the family, friends and fans of Sergio Mendes,” according to whom he was “one of the greatest representatives and promoters of (Brazilian) music and culture throughout the world”[[[1]].
Brazilian composer and former Minister of Culture Gilberto Gil paid tribute on Instagram to “an icon of Brazilian music”, while the singer of the Black Eyed Peas, rapper Will.i.am, posted a photo of himself and Mendes accompanied by the text “An eternal friendship”[[[1]]. The American group had remixed his song Mas Que Nada in 2006.
Mendes’ rise to fame began in the early 1960s, at the height of the bossa nova wave, when he quickly rose to fame with his talents as a pianist and composer of arrangements, arousing the interest of Antonio Carlos Jobim[[[1]]. His mastery of jazz impressed and the American saxophonist Cannonball Adderley chose his group, “Sexteto Rio”, to record the album Cannonball’s Bossa Nova in 1963[[[1]].
Throughout his career, Mendes continued to exploit the inexhaustible vein of captivating music, in which he skillfully mixed the cadence of samba, the groove of jazz, and the subtle vocal harmonies that characterized bossa nova[[[1]]. His legacy will live on through his music, which has inspired generations of musicians and music lovers around the world.
Rest in peace, Sergio Mendes. Your music will forever be etched in our hearts.
