Astrud Gilberto, one of the greatest names in bossa nova, dies at 83

Brazilian singer Astrud Evangelina Weinert, better known as Astrud Gilberto, died at 83 on Monday night (5).

Her granddaughter and singer Sofia Gilberto broke the news on her Instagram in the early hours of Tuesday (6), confirmed by Astrud’s official Instagram.

“My grandma Astrud Gilberto made this song for me called Linda Sofia. In fact, she wanted my name to be Linda Sofia.”

“Life is beautiful, as the song says, but I bring you the sad news that my grandmother has become a star today and is standing next to my grandfather João Gilberto.”

“Astrud was the real girl who took bossa nova from Ipanema to the world. She was the pioneer and the best,” Sofia’s text began.

Astrud became internationally known after voicing the English version of the song ‘Girl from Ipanema’. In the text, the singer’s granddaughter recalled her grandmother’s trajectory.

“Astrud was the real girl who took bossa nova from Ipanema to the world.”

“She was the pioneer and the best.”

“At 22, she gave voice to the English version of ‘Garota de Ipanema’ and gained international fame.”

“The song, a bossa nova anthem, became the second most played song worldwide mainly because of her.”

“I love and will love Astrud forever, and she was the face and voice of bossa nova in most parts of the world.”

“Astrud will be forever in our hearts, and at this moment, we have to celebrate Astrud,” adds Sofia.

Astrud Evangelina Weinert was born in Salvador, on March 29, 1940.

The Brazilian singer was married to the “father of bossa nova” João Gilberto (1931-2019), from 1959 to 1964, with whom she had a son, musician João Marcelo Gilberto, 63 years old, Sofia’s father with the cultural producer and screenwriter Adriana Magalhães.

Away from the stage since 2002, Astrud has an extensive discography of 19 albums.

The daughter of a Brazilian woman and a German father, the singer started her musical career in 1960.

Three years later, she moved to the United States, where she produced the album Getz/Gilberto alongside her husband and Stan Getz.

The artist leaves two sons, bass player Marcelo Gilberto, from her marriage to João Gilberto, and Greg Lasorsa, from her second marriage.

With information from Valor

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