Astrud Gilberto, the legendary Brazilian singer who captivated millions of people with her rendition of “The Girl from Ipanema,” passed away at the age of 83.
This singer’s career began with the recording of this song, which went on to become her most successful release and was largely responsible for her meteoric climb to fame. Even in modern times, “The Girl from Ipanema” is recognized as one of the bossa nova records that has had the most significant impact on Brazilian music. It is considered to be one of the most famous and influential of all time.
A refined Brazilian musical style was introduced to individuals from the United States and all over the world by Astrud, who helped contribute to the creation of what became known as a new worldwide pop music fashion. This happened almost overnight.
She released sixteen albums during the course of her career and collaborated with some of the most well-known artists in the music industry, including Quincy Jones and George Michael.
Her granddaughter was the one who informed everyone of the singer’s dying away.
“I’m here to bring you the sad news that my grandmother became a star today, and is next to my grandfather Joo Gilberto,” wrote Sofia, who is herself a musician.
“I’m here to bring you the sad news that my grandmother was next to my grandfather Joo Gilberto.”
“She was the first of her kind and the very best. She was only 22 years old when she provided her voice to the English rendition of “Girl from Ipanema,” which catapulted her to international recognition.
Paul Ricci, a guitarist living in New York who had worked with Astrud, was another individual who had a strong relationship with the late singer and rushed to social media to express their sadness at the news.
“I just got word from her son Marcelo that we have lost Astrud Gilberto,” he stated in the letter. “At his request, this is to be published. She was a significant contributor to ALL of what is known as Brazilian music around the world, and the energy she radiated impacted the course of many people’s lives. Rest in peace, from “the chief,” as she referred to me.
It is not known for certain how Astrud came to perform the English version of her legendary song, but there are several alternative tales surrounding the narrative of how this came to be. During a recording session in New York in 1963 with jazz great Stan Getz for an album called Getz/Gilberto, Astrud claims that her husband, Joo Gilberto, the Brazilian guitarist known as the “father of bossa nova,” was the one who proposed it.
Gilberto is widely regarded as the creator of the bossa nova genre.
“After Joo had just finished singing the first chorus in Portuguese, he casually asked me to join in and sing a chorus in English,” she remembered in an interview. “Joo asked me to sing a chorus in English after he had finished singing the chorus in Portuguese.”
Astrud was only paid $120 for the recording and was not given credit for her vocal contributions; nevertheless, she did record her own solo version after the session.
Stan Getz, an American saxophone, is claimed to have gained one million dollars off of the recording. He is quoted as saying that he “made sure that [Astrud] got nothing,” referring to her as a “housewife.”
“I had fun doing it, and I enjoy being a part of it,” she remarked in a 1978 interview with WHYY’s Fresh Air program.
“But I have never envisioned it as becoming an important thing in my life, or the beginning of a career, or anything like that,” she said. “But it has.”
In 1982, she stated, “The funny thing is that after my success, stories abound as to Stan Getz or Creed Taylor having ‘discovered me,’ when in fact, nothing could be further from the truth.” “The funny thing is that after my success, stories abound as to Stan Getz or Creed Taylor having ‘discovered me,'” she remarked. “I believe it made them look significant to have been the one that had the ‘knowledge’ to recognize promise in my singing.
In other words, they were the one who recognized the potential in my singing.
“I suppose I should feel flattered by the importance that they lend to this, but I can’t help but feel annoyed that they resorted to lying.” “I suppose I should feel flattered by the importance that they lend to this.”
It wasn’t until the song reached number five on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States that it became an international hit. As a result, Astrud was awarded the Grammy for Song of the Year and was nominated for the award for Best Vocal Performance by a Female.
Astrud’s other songs were never able to achieve the same level of popularity as “The Girl from Ipanema,” but she did go on to have a very successful career as a singer in her native Brazil.
There is currently no new information regarding her passing that has been disclosed. I pray that she finds eternal rest.