RIO DE JANEIRO — Sergio Mendes, the Brazilian Grammy award winner whose hit “Mas Que Nada” made him a world legend, has died after months of battling the effects of Long Covid. He was 83 years old.
The death of the Brazilian pianist, songwriter and arranger was confirmed in a statement from his family on Thursday.
“His wife and musical partner of the past 54 years, Gracinha Leporace Mendes, was by his side, as were his beloved children,” the statement said on Friday. “Mendes last performed to sold-out and enthusiastic crowds in Paris, London and Barcelona in November 2023.”
His composition “Mas que Nada” was one of the songs that helped popularize the Brazilian music genre Bossa Nova worldwide in the 1960s.
In 2006, a modern version of the song performed by the Black Eyed Peas topped the US charts. It was included on his album “Timeless”, which was produced by will.i.am and featured Stevie Wonder, Justin Timberlake and the Black Eyed Peas, among others.
“Sergio Mendes was my brother from another country,” trumpeter Herb Alpert wrote on Facebook, posting a photo from decades ago of himself sitting next to Mendes at the piano. “He was a true friend and an extremely gifted musician who brought Brazilian music in all its forms with elegance to the whole world.”
Mendes also composed the soundtrack for the film “Pelé” with saxophonist Gerry Mulligan and even produced an album by the legendary Brazilian footballer.
Mendes won the Grammy Award for Best World Music Album in 1992 for “Brasileiro” and two Latin Grammy Awards. He also received an Oscar nomination for Best Original Song in 2012 for “Real in Rio” from the animated film “Rio.”
Mendes’ family said they would announce details of the funeral and memorial service at a later date.
