Bossa nova jazz musician dies at age 83

Brazilian musician Sérgio Mendes, who introduced bossa nova to an international audience in the 1960s, has died, his family said Friday.

According to a statement shared with USA TODAY, the Grammy winner died Thursday in Los Angeles surrounded by his children and his wife of 54 years, Gracinha Leporace Mendes. He was 83.

“International music icon Sergio Mendes, who brought the joyful sounds of his native Brazil to the world, passed away peacefully on September 5, 2024 in Los Angeles,” his family said in a statement. “Mendes last performed to sold-out, raucous audiences in Paris, London and Barcelona in November 2023.”

According to his family, Mendes had been struggling with health issues in the months before his death as a result of the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic.

According to his family, Mendes leaves behind “an incredible musical legacy spanning more than six decades, with a unique sound first heard through his band Brasil ’66.”

Sérgio Mendes: ‘Mas Que Nada’ ‘gave me my first big break’

Grammy Award-winning and Oscar-nominated Mendes is perhaps best known for the 1966 hit “Mas Que Nada.”

Musician Herb Alpert, who helped launch Mendes’ international career, said in an Instagram post Friday that Mendes was “a true friend and an exceptionally talented musician who presented Brazilian music in all its manifestations with elegance and joy to the entire world.”

The two collaborated with Mendes’ band Brasil 66 on his debut album, “Herb Alpert Presents Sergio Mendes & Brasil ’66.” The album resulted in “Mas Que Nada,” a song that helped the band chart.

“It was the first time a Portuguese song became a hit in America and all over the world,” he told NPR in 2014.

“That’s the song that gave me my first big break,” Mendes added. “I still love playing it. I never got tired of it.”

In 1993, he won his first Grammy for “Brasileiro”, which won in the category of best album in the world. His song “Real in Rio” also earned him an Oscar nomination in 2012.

John Legend also paid tribute to the musician by commenting under the Instagram post announcing Mendes’ passing.

“We love you Sergio 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾” he wrote.

Actor Elijah Wood shared a simple message on X, formerly Twitter, to bid farewell to Mendes: “Farewell, Sergio Mendes,” he captioned a black-and-white photo of the jazz musician.

Contributions: Anthony Boadle, ReuterS