Sérgio Mendes, the Brazilian artist renowned for popularising bossa nova music globally with his group Brasil ’66 in the 60s, has passed away at the age of 83 due to health complications stemming from prolonged Covid-19. Revealing this in a communique, Mendes’s loved ones stated that he peacefully left the world in Los Angeles, his place of residence, with his devoted wife and music accomplice of 54 years, Gracinha Leporace Mendes, and cherished children at his bedside. His final live performances were in Paris, London, and Barcelona in November 2023, greeted with fully occupied and fervently responsive audiences. The last few months of his life saw his health decline due to persistent Covid-19 complications.
Prominent figures in Brazilian music expressed their condolences and commended their colleague as the news of his demise echoed throughout his birthplace, Brazil. Milton Nascimento an illustrious vocalist, shared his condolences on Instagram with a touching message that read, “Rest in peace, cherished marvel”. He also reminisced the enduring years of companionship, collaboration and music, stating that Mendes will eternally remain in his heart.
Marcos Valle, a singer-songwriter from his homeland, lauded Mendes as a trailblazer in the samba jazz subgenre of bossa nova during the 1960s. Valle, discussing with GloboNews, appraised Mendes as a representative of popular Brazilian tunes in its various facets.
Herb Alpert, an American artist who aided Mendes in his rise to global recognition, considered him as the “brother from another country”. Alpert praised him as an unfailingly warm friend and a profoundly talented musician, who introduced Brazilian music in all its forms to the worldwide audience with sophistication and happiness. He shared this heartfelt tribute on Instagram, accompanied with a photograph dating back to their time together in the studio.
Mendes, who was born in Niterói on February 11th, 1941, was trained as a classical pianist when he was still a young boy. His father, a physician, initially wanted Mendes to pursue the same career path but changed his mind after observing Mendes’s growing passion and proficiency in jazz. Mendes remembers his father backing off and allowing him to chase his musical dreams following some impressive performances with bands, as relayed in a 2005 interview.
In the latter part of the 1950s, as a teenager, Mendes embarked on his journey into the music industry, performing in Rio’s nightclubs concurrently with the rise of bossa nova music worldwide. With guidance from Antônio Carlos Jobim, an influential figure in bossa nova, Mendes launched his band, Sexteto Bossa Rio, and his first instrumental album, Dance Moderno, in 1961. His work gained attention from American musicians like Cannonball Adderley and Herbie Mann, leading to collaborations in the early 1960s.
In 1964, Mendes set up base in Los Angeles where he signed a deal with Capitol Records and started the band Brasil ’65. After two album releases that didn’t do as well as hoped, the band enlisted the talents of vocalists Lani Hall and Bibi Vogel. They began singing in English and the band rebranded to Brasil ’66. Their album, brought to life by producer Herb Alpert, achieved platinum status largely due to the success of the single Mas Que Nada, a track Mendes would recreate in 2006 with the Black Eyed Peas.
In 1968, a turning point came for Mendes when he performed The Look of Love at the Academy Awards ceremony. The performance drew in a wider viewership, and Brasil ’66’s rendition of the song climbed into the US top 10. Mendes became a household name, playing for presidents and at global events such as the Japan World Expo in 1970. He also emerged as a global champion of bossa nova. In a 2005 interview, he lauded the genre for its distinct rhythm and captivating melodies that you could easily relate to, dance to, and hum to yourself, making it an integral part of your life.
Mendes maintained a steady recording career throughout the 70s and 80s, garnering another chart-topping success in 1983 with his mature reinterpretation of Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil’s melody, Never Gonna Let You Go. In the year of 2006, Timeless, produced by Black Eyed Peas’ will.i.am, marked Mendes’s return to music. The album brought together the talents of Erykah Badu, Q-Tip, Stevie Wonder and Justin Timberlake, mirroring a number of underground hip hop tracks that utilised Mendes’s sound.
Aside from his recording career, Mendes contributed to the soundtrack of the animated movies Rio and Rio 2. His work earned him an Oscar nomination for best original song in 2012 with Real in Rio. Additionally, he bagged a Grammy for the best world album for Brasileiro in 1992. He hadn’t stopped performing up to the previous year and his latest collection, In the Key of Joy, hit the stores in 2020.
Mendes’ surviving kin includes his spouse, Leporace, and their five children. – Guardian