CNN
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Sérgio Mendes, a singer and composer who helped popularize bossa nova music in his native Brazil, died Thursday in Los Angeles, his family said in a statement to CNN.
Mendes was 83 years old.
“His wife and musical partner of the past 54 years, Gracinha Leporace Mendes, was by his side, as were his beloved children,” the family statement said.
They added that he had recently been struggling with the effects of long-term Covid illness.
Mendes has recorded more than 35 albums over the course of his sixty-year career, most recently performing to audiences in Paris, London and Barcelona in 2023.
“There is an English word that I love: serendipity,” says a quote from Mendes on his website. “That is the story of my life.”
Mendes was born in Niteroi, Brazil in 1941. In his youth, he studied classical music and, according to his website, developed a love of jazz music after hearing a Dave Brubeck record.
He began playing in trios and quartets before moving to the United States with his group Brasil ’66. Their Portuguese-language single “Mas Que Nada” brought them success, as did the gentle hit “The Look of Love.”
Mendes has worked with a number of high-profile artists over the years, including Herb Albert, Frank Sinatra, Quincy Jones, Burt Bacharach and Stevie Wonder. His other unforgettable songs include “Scarborough Fair,” “Night and Day” and “Never Gonna Let You Go.”
The 2020 documentary film “Sergio Mendes: In the Key of Joy” explored his career and his collaborations with other contemporary artists, including will.i.am, Common and John Legend. Mendes and Legend received an Oscar nomination for Best Original Song in 2012 for “Real in Rio” from the animated film “Rio.”
In a 2020 interview with NPR, Mendes discussed the longevity of his career and his many musical partnerships.
“I’ve been very lucky to have these experiences because they have enriched my life. I think working with different people from different countries and cultures just helps you grow and learn new things. … I love it because it’s not programmed; it’s about the magical encounter,” Mendes said. “I think that’s a beautiful thing in life.”
This story has been updated.
