Brazilian Bossa nova pioneer Sérgio Mendes has died aged 83

Brazilian musician Sérgio Mendes passed away "peacefully” aged 83 on Thursday, September 5, his family have confirmed in a statement.

The star musician who helped put Bossa nova on the world stage had been suffering from long COVID and respiratory problems since the end of 2023, according to his family.

In the statement, it was revealed that the GRAMMY Award-winning artist was surrounded by his family, including his wife and children, when he died in Los Angeles on Thursday evening.

"Mendes leaves us with an incredible musical legacy from more than six decades of a unique sound," reads the statement.

The composer, pianist, songwriter, and bandleader recorded more than 35 albums over his career, many of which went platinum or gold in the US. He performed at the White House for President Richard Nixon in 1971, and again for Ronald Reagan in 1982.

Born in Niteroi, Brazil, in 1941, Mendes released his first major hit, ‘Mas Que Nada’, in 1966 with his band Brasil '66. To this day, the catchy, uplifting melody remains one of the musician’s most successful and well-known pieces of work. As a cover of Jorge Ben’s original, it became the first Portuguese language song to reach No. 5 in the singles charts, pushing its associated album to the top 10 in the US charts.

Speaking on the hit, Mendes once said that there is "something very magical about that chant; people love that song - everywhere in the world" (via BBC).

Mendes’ success in bringing the Brazilian genre of Bossa nova, pioneered by the likes of João Gilberto or Antōnio Carlos (Tom) Jobim, to an international audience, can be attributed in part to his fusion with more Western musical influences.

His Bossa nova covers of Simon & Garfunkel's ‘Scarborough Fair’, Otis Redding's ‘(Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay’, The Beatles' ‘The Fool On The Hill’, and Dionne Warwick's classic 'Never Gonna Let You Go', brought a sunny, Latin sensibility to the sounds of rock, pop and soul, while collaborations with Charlie Byrd and Herbie Mann saw the innovative artist toying with classic jazz styles.

Later on in his career, Mendes even began incorporating elements of hip hop into his productions, working with the likes of Black Eyed Peas, Common, and Q-Tip.

In 2005, Mendes won a lifetime achievement award at the 2005 Latin Grammys, and in 2012, he received an Oscar nomination for his song ‘Real in Rio’, produced in collaboration with Brazilian percussionist Carlinhos Brown, and used in the soundtrack of the film Rio.

Since the news of his passing, singer John Legend is among many who have paid tribute: "We lost a wonderful musician and a beautiful soul today," he wrote. "I’m so grateful to have known and worked with the great Sergio Mendes. He brought so much love to the world and to everyone who knew him."

Read his tribute below.

Meena Sears is Mixmag's Digital Intern, follow her on Instagram