Sergio Mendes, the renowned Brazilian musician whose iconic 1966 song “Mas Que Nada” propelled him to international fame and kicked off a lengthy, Grammy-winning career, has passed away at the age of 83 after suffering from long COVID for several months. His family confirmed his death on Thursday.
In a statement released on Friday, the family shared that Mendes was surrounded by his wife, Gracinha Leporace Mendes, who had been his musical partner for over five decades, and their beloved children. Mendes last performed in November 2023 in sold-out venues across Paris, London, and Barcelona.
Born in Niterói, a city neighboring Rio de Janeiro, Mendes initially studied classical music before venturing into jazz. In the late 1950s and early 1960s, he became involved in the Bossa Nova movement, collaborating with notable artists like Antonio Carlos Jobim and João Gilberto in Rio’s vibrant nightlife.
Mendes’ journey to fame began in 1962 when he participated in a Bossa Nova festival at Carnegie Hall in New York. He collaborated with Cannonball Adderley on the album “Cannonball Adderley and The Bossa Rio Sextet,” which led to his first American release, “The Swinger from Rio,” under Atlantic Records.
After relocating to California, Mendes founded the group Brazil ’64, which later became Brazil ’66 with the addition of two female singers. Their debut album featured “Mas Que Nada,” a song originally recorded by Jorge Ben Jor in 1963, which Mendes revitalized into a hit with its upbeat Samba style.
Mendes’ rendition of “Mas Que Nada” not only became a global sensation but also played a significant role in popularizing Brazilian music during the 1960s. In 2006, a revamped version by the Black Eyed Peas topped U.S. charts and featured on Mendes’ album “Timeless,” which included collaborations with artists like Stevie Wonder and Justin Timberlake.
Tributes poured in following Mendes’ passing, with trumpet player Herb Alpert expressing on social media, “Sergio Mendes was my brother from another country,” highlighting his talent and impact on bringing Brazilian music to a worldwide audience.
Throughout his career, Mendes released numerous hits, showcased his versatility with covers of songs by The Beatles, and even composed the soundtrack for the film “Pelé.” He earned the 1992 Grammy Award for Best World Music Album for “Brasileiro” and two Latin Grammy Awards, along with an Oscar nomination in 2012 for “Real in Rio” from the animated film “Rio.”
Mendes’ family announced that they would share further information regarding funeral and memorial arrangements in the coming days.