"The voice that internationalized bossa nova," Astrud Gilberto, passed away Monday. This was confirmed by her granddaughter, Sofia Gilberto, through a statement on Instagram. Gilberto passed away at the age of 83, but the place, time and cause were not specified.
Astrud Gilberto, who for many years was married to Brazilian guitarist João Gilberto, became known to the world when she sang the English version of "La Garota de Ipanema" with her husband and American jazz saxophonist Stan Getz. The version contributed greatly to catapulting Brazilian bossa nova to worldwide fame.
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"Astrud was the real girl who brought bossa nova from Ipanema to the world," Gilberto's granddaughter wrote in her Instagram post. "The Girl from Ipanema" became the second most played song in the world in 1963, and it was all by chance. Astrud accompanied her husband to record a Brazilian fusion and jazz album in New York with Getz. Then, when she began to sing, she captivated U.S. music producers. Astrud Gilberto had no musical training or previous experience on stage.
Among her most popular songs are "Agua de Beber," "Berimbau," "Bim Bom," "Desafinado," "Canto de Ossanha," "Corcovado" and many other versions of popular bossa nova, a new genre of music that emerged in Brazil between the 50s and 60s.
