Bossa Nova Icon Astrud Gilberto Passes Away at 83

Bossa nova singer Astrud Gilberto (here in 1984) died on Monday June 5, 2023.

DEATH – Singer Astrud Gilberto has died at the age of 83. The Brazilian media announced his mort this Tuesday, June 6, after the publication of an Instagram post by Sofia Gilberto, the granddaughter of the Brazilian bossa nova icon.

Born of a German father and a Brazilian mother, the artist grew up in the state of Bahia in Brazil – in the south of the Nordeste region – and married at 19 the musician João Gilbertoalready known as the guitarist of Elizeth Cardoso.

And it was in 1963 that the two lovers, freshly settled in the United States, met the American saxophonist Stan Getz. A meeting that will be a turning point in their career. They all three leave the piece The Girl From Ipanema. Having become cult, the title is one of the most popular in the world, indicates France Musicfrom Stevie Wonder to Ella Fitzgerald.

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This title, which has become a standard, propels Astrud Gilberto, 23, into the spotlight and launches her career as a singer. In 1964, she divorced Joao Gilberto and henceforth collaborated exclusively with Stan Getz, her new lover.

Icône de la bossa nova

Both then released the album Getz au Go Go. An original artistic project because recorded in public, at the café Au Go Go from Greenwich Village to New York in August 1964. The singer first performed in English but Brazilian versions were later published.

The talent of Astrud Gilberto, which has become undeniable, makes her an icon of the 60s and a beautiful vocal representation of bossa nova, this very particular musical style between samba and jazz, born at the end of the 1950s.

Then she becomes more discreet. It was only 30 years after her worldwide success that the artist returned to the public scene at the end of the 90s: she created the production company Gregmar, militates alongside the association Red Hot Organization on the compilation “Red Hot + Rio” and also records a duet with Étienne Daho, The banks of the Seine (on the album Eden) :