by Zurellys Villegas
Sergio Mendes, the legendary Brazilian musician who brought bossa nova music to a global audience in the 1960s with his group, Sergio Mendes & Brasil ’66, died last Thursday, September 5, at the age of 83.
The iconic producer, composer and pianist died at his home in Los Angeles surrounded by his family after failing to win the battle against complications from prolonged COVID.
“His wife and musical partner for the past 54 years, Gracinha Leporace Mendes, was by his side, as were his beloved children,” the musician’s family said in a statement announcing the death. “Mendes last performed in November 2023 to sold-out and enthusiastic venues in Paris, London and Barcelona.”
Trumpeter Herb Alpert, one of the first to publicly pay tribute to him, wrote on Facebook that “Sergio Mendes was my brother from another country,” attaching a photo from decades ago, sitting next to Mendes at the piano. He then added: “He was a true friend and an extremely talented musician who brought Brazilian music in all its forms to the entire world with elegance.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nVgcs7_gHcc
Mendes, one of the most internationally successful Brazilian artists
Mendes was born on February 11, 1941 in Niterói, Rio de Janeiro and established himself as a singer-songwriter, arranger and pianist. Throughout his outstanding career, which spanned more than six decades, he published more than 35 albums and became an international reference for Brazilian music.
The composition “Más que nada” (Mais que nada) was instrumental in helping to popularize the Brazilian musical genre bossa nova around the world in the 1960s. Mendes has two popular versions of this song, the first in 1966, with his band Sérgio Mendes & Brasil ’66 and the second in 2006, with the group The Black Eyed Peas.
This song reached the middle of the famous North American Billboard Hot 100 hit list, in an original composition performed by the Brazilian musician Jorge Ben on his first album, Samba Esquema Novo in 1963.
However, thanks to the version recorded in 2006 by Sérgio Mendes and the group The Black Eyed Peas, the song became popular for generations of the 2000s in the United States and Europe. In the United States, it is one of the most famous Brazilian songs. Currently, in the country, the 2006 version is mainly known and not the one by Jorge Ben; However, in Brazil, the first version is more popular. Experts point out that the original song contains salsa and lambada rhythms, while the 2006 version is more hip hop.
“It was the first time that a song sung entirely in Portuguese was a hit in the country and around the world,” Mendes said about this song in 2014. “People didn’t even know what we were saying, and it didn’t matter. It made them feel good,” he added.
Another of Sérgio Mendes’ big hits was “Magalenha,” a song composed by Brazilian musician Carlinhos Brown and recorded for the first time by Mendes with Brown’s participation for the 1992 studio album Brasileiro, which earned him his only Grammy Award in 1992 for this album in the World Music Album category.
The acclaimed Brazilian artist toured with great American artists such as Frank Sinatra, among others. He also explored and perfected captivating music, fusing the rhythm of samba, the groove of jazz, the refinement of California pop with the delicate vocal harmonies of bossa nova. The artist also composed the soundtrack for the film “Pelé,” with saxophonist Gerry Mulligan, and also produced an album recorded by the legendary Brazilian soccer player.
Mendes won the 1992 Grammy Award for Best World Music Album for “Brasileiro,” as well as two Latin Grammy Awards. He also received an Oscar nomination in 2012 for Best Original Song for “Real in Rio,” from the animated film “Rio.”
Sérgio Mendes left a vast legacy throughout his career and his work will undoubtedly continue to shape the world music scene for decades to come.
