Brazilian music icon SERGIO MENDES died on Thursday 5th September, aged 83. A statement from his family said Mendes “passed away peacefully in Los Angeles, surrounded by his wife and children”. No official cause of death was given, however the family said Mendes had been suffering with long-term Covid, and the musician was known to have suffered respiratory problems since the end of 2023. They added the Sergio had :” last performed in November 2023 to sold out and wildly enthusiastic houses in Paris, London and Barcelona, but for the last several months, his health had been challenged by the effects of long-term COVID.”
Born in a Rio suburb in 1942, the music histories tell us that his life changed in 1956 when he heard his first jazz record, ‘Take Five’ by Dave Brubeck; young Sergio abandoned his studies and took to music. He started playing piano in nightclubs in Rio just as the bossa nova craze was taking off and he soon specialised in the genre, making his recording debut in 1961 with ‘Dance Moderno’.
Political issues led Mendes to quit Brazil for the USA where he formed a group – the legendary Brasil ’66, (right) creating a unique sound – jazz/samba tinged versions of pop songs and Brazilian classics – delivered with verve and joy. Featuring two lead singers, Lani Hall and Karen Philip, Brasil ’66 scored their first hit with the now classic cover of Jorge Ben’s ‘Mas Que Nada’. Released on A&M, it was the first Portuguese-language song to become a global hit and the band were on their way. They scored hit after hit with their unique blending of pop/soul hits with Brazilian rhythms. One of their best-loved hits was a version of the Beatles ‘Fool on the Hill’. We’re told that Paul McCartney wrote Mendes a letter, telling him it was his favourite version of the song.
In the 1970s, Mendes relaunched his band as Brasil ’77, but, accused of now being “easy listening”, success was harder to find till 1983 when he scored his biggest chart hit with a cover of Dionne Warwick’s ‘Never Gonna Let You Go’.
With an ever-evolving sound, in the new millennium, Mendes started to incorporate elements of hip-hop into his music, collaborating with the Black Eyed Peas on a new version of ‘Mas Que Nada’, and recording songs with rappers including Common and Q-Tip. He had a cameo in the video for Pharrell Williams’ Happy; and won a lifetime achievement award at the 2005 Latin Grammys.
Sergio Mendes is survived by his wife, Gracinha Leporace, who sang on many of his records. He also had 5 children.
