Brazilian singer Astrud Gilberto, bossa nova figure and performer of the famous song ‘Girl from Ipanema’, has died at the age of 83, her family announced on social media on Tuesday morning.
‘I bring the sad news that my grandmother has become a star today and that she is at the side of my grandfather Joao Gilberto, also a singer, who died in 2019, wrote their granddaughter Sofia Gilberto.
According to the G1 news site, Astrud Gilberto died at her home in Philadelphia, USA.
Born in 1940 in Salvador de Bahia (Brazilian Northeast), of a Brazilian mother and a German father, she was, from the age of 19 and for several years, the wife of Joao Gilberto, another icon of Brazilian music.
The ‘queen of bossa nova’, whose discography includes 19 albums, immortalized ‘Garota de Ipanema’, by Tom Jobim and Vinicius de Moraes, performing the chorus in English in a version recorded in New York with saxophonist Stan Getz , and titled ‘Girl form Ipanema’.
This led to her becoming the first Brazilian singer to win a Grammy, with the record of the year 1964.
Stage fear
At 24, with her wise and gentle look, the pretty brunette immediately conquered the public, but to overcome her fear of the stage she had to take acting classes at the Stella Adler school in New York. The Three Friends concert at Carnegie Hall in New York in October 1964 brought them to the pinnacle.
After ‘The Girl from Ipanema’, the one who is often called the ‘queen of bossa nova’ continues her career in the United States where she remained after her divorce with Joao Gilberto, then her separation with Stan Getz.
‘Fly Me to the Moon’ (1972) was another major hit for the singer who became a songwriter with the albums ‘Astrud Gilberto Now’ and ‘That Girl from Ipanema’.
His shyness overcome allows him to perform on tour across the United States, Canada, Japan, Europe, with his group of musicians, including Marcelo Gilberto, one of his two sons.
With him and his brother Gregory Lasorsa, she created Productions Gregmar, which notably released a tribute album to Antonio Carlos Jobim.
The year 2001 is that of the last appearance on stage of the artist who, after a Latin Jazz USA Award, is inducted in New York into the Hall of Fame of Latin American music, the ‘Latin Music Hall of Fame’ . In 2008, a Latin Grammy Award rewards her for her entire career.
Away from the spotlight, Astrud Gilberto lived his last years in Philadelphia, USA, and devoted himself to painting and fighting for the defense of animal rights. She is the author of the essay ‘Animals, they need our help!!!’ (Animals need our help).
/ATS
2023-06-06 14:51:00
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