Sergio Mendes, the internationally recognized Brazilian musician known for his fusion of bossa nova and pop, passed away at the age of 83. Mendes, a pianist and bandleader, died in his Los Angeles, California home on September 5, 2024.
The announcement of Mendes’s death came from his family, who stated that he passed away peacefully at his residence. They shared that his wife and longtime musical partner, Gracinha Leporace Mendes, and their children were with him during his final moments.
The family revealed that Mendes had performed his last concerts in November 2023, enthralling full houses in Paris, London, and Barcelona. They also stated that Mendes had been grappling with health complications linked to long-term COVID-19 effects in the months preceding his death.
Mendes was born in 1941 in Niterói, Brazil. His musical career started in the late 1950s, during the rise of the bossa nova movement, with performances in nightclubs in Rio de Janeiro. Under the mentorship of bossa nova icon Antônio Carlos Jobim, Mendes quickly rose to prominence in the Brazilian music industry.
His talent garnered international notice in 1962 when he performed at the renowned Bossa Nova Festival at Carnegie Hall in New York City. This significant event in his career led to collaborations with jazz greats such as Cannonball Adderley and Herbie Mann.
In 1964, two years after his Carnegie Hall performance, Mendes moved to California and formed the band Brasil ’66 with A&M Records. The group’s innovative blend of Brazilian rhythms and American pop quickly propelled them to worldwide fame.
The band’s big break came with their interpretation of Jorge Ben’s “Mas Que Nada,” which became Mendes’s iconic song. Brasil ’66 also produced several hits, including their covers of The Beatles’ “The Fool on the Hill” and Burt Bacharach’s “The Look of Love.”
In a previous interview, Mendes referred to “Mas Que Nada” as a divine blessing, stating that the song played a crucial role in bringing Brazilian music to the global stage and opening doors for the genre worldwide.
Across his career spanning seven decades, Mendes continually evolved his music, working with a variety of artists across different genres. In the 1980s, he contributed to the James Bond series with the title song for “Never Say Never Again.”
In the 2000s, Mendes collaborated with modern artists, most notably with The Black Eyed Peas in 2006, to reimagine “Mas Que Nada” for a new generation.
Mendes’s musical contributions were recognized with multiple awards, including three Grammy Awards. He was also nominated for an Oscar in 2012 for “Real in Rio,” a song he co-wrote with Carlinhos Brown and Siedah Garrett for the animated film “Rio.”
Despite his global success, Mendes remained closely tied to his Brazilian heritage, often emphasizing the significance of sharing his culture through music.
“In the Key of Joy,” Mendes’s final studio album, was released in 2020. The album featured collaborations with contemporary artists and displayed his enduring creativity.
Herb Alpert, the American musician who played a significant role in launching Mendes’s international career, shared a touching tribute on Instagram. In his message, Alpert highlighted Mendes’s exceptional musical talent and genuine friendship, praising his crucial role in introducing various forms of Brazilian music to the world.
News of Mendes’s passing was met with tributes from other notable Brazilian musicians. Milton Nascimento, a legendary singer, shared a heartfelt message on Instagram, referring to Mendes as a beloved genius and reflecting on their longstanding friendship and musical collaborations. Singer-songwriter Marcos Valle remembered Mendes as a pioneer in the bossa nova subgenre of samba jazz during the 1960s.
Mendes is survived by his wife Gracinha and their five children. His family has announced plans to celebrate his life and music in the near future, with details to be released later.