‘Girl from Ipanema’ singer Astrud Gilberto dies at 83

BRASILIA, Brazil – Brazilian singer Astrud Gilberto, the voice of Bossa Nova whose version of “The Girl from Ipanema” was an international success in the late 1960s, has died at the age of 83, her family said.

Gilberto died on Monday, June 5, at her home in Philadelphia, her granddaughter Sofia Gilberto said on social media.

“Life is beautiful, as the song says, but I bring the sad news that my grandmother became a star today and is next to my grandfather Joao Gilberto,” the granddaughter wrote.

Astrud was married to Brazilian musician Joao Gilberto, the pioneer composer and songwriter of Bossa Nova from the late 1950s, who died in 2019.

He collaborated with US jazz musician Stan Getz in 1963 on the album Getz/Gilberto that popularized the new Brazilian sound worldwide.

Joao Gilberto’s then-wife Astrud performed the vocals in English, including the duet “The Girl from Ipanema” which became the album’s major hit. Getz/Gilberto won three Grammy Awards including Album of the Year, the first time a jazz album received the accolade.

Her first solo album was The Astrud Gilberto Album, released in 1965 and featuring Antonio Carlos Jobim. – Rappler.com