The Girl from Ipanema: Astrud Gilberto and the Sound of Bossa Nova
When Astrud Gilberto burst onto the bossa nova scene in 1964 with her rendition of “The Girl from Ipanema,” she changed the sound of Brazilian music forever. Gilberto’s sultry voice and laid-back style made bossa nova an instant international sensation, and she quickly became the face of the genre. Though Gilberto only recorded a handful of albums during her career, she left a lasting mark on bossa nova and Brazilian music as a whole. Her unique style and vocal delivery remain unparalleled, and her influence can still be heard in bossa nova music today.
1. Astrud Gilberto was born in Brazil in 1940 2. She is best known for singing "The Girl from Ipanema" 3. The song was written by Antonio Carlos Jobim and Vinicius de Moraes 4. Gilberto's husband, João Gilberto, was a bossa nova pioneer 5. The couple moved to the United States in 1963 6. Gilberto continued to record and perform throughout her career 7. She died in 2020 at the age of 88
1. Astrud Gilberto was born in Brazil in 1940
Astrud Gilberto was born in Brazil in 1940. She was the daughter of a Brazilian mother and a German father, and was exposed to music from a young age. Her father, who was a keen musician, taught her to play the piano and the guitar. She began singing in her school choir and later joined a local band, playing the role of lead singer. It was through her work with this band that she met her future husband, João Gilberto. Astrud Gilberto's career began in the early 1960s, when she recorded her first album, 's My One and Only Love, with Stan Getz. The album was a huge success, reaching the top of the jazz charts and selling over a million copies. Gilberto's distinctive voice and style, which blended Brazilian bossa nova with American Jazz, made her a hugely popular singer, and she went on to release a number of successful albums over the next few years. Gilberto's popularity reached its height in 1964 with the release of her album, The Girl from Ipanema. The album, which featured the famous song of the same name, was a global hit, selling over five million copies and cementing Gilberto's status as a world-famous singer. She continued to release successful albums throughout the 1960s and 1970s, before retiring from the music industry in the early 1980s. Although she has not recorded any new music for many years, Astrud Gilberto's legacy continues to live on. Her unique style and sound has influenced many subsequent generations of singers, and she is widely regarded as one of the most important figures in Brazilian music history.
2. She is best known for singing "The Girl from Ipanema"
Astrud Gilberto is best known for singing "The Girl from Ipanema". The song was written by Antônio Carlos Jobim and Vinícius de Moraes, and originally recorded in 1962 by Pery Ribeiro. Gilberto's version was recorded in 1963 with Stan Getz, and released on the album Getz/Gilberto. The album won the Grammy Award for Album of the Year in 1965. Gilberto was born in Brazil in 1940, and began her career as a model. She married João Gilberto in 1959, and the couple moved to the United States in 1963. Gilberto began singing professionally after being persuaded by her husband to do so. Her breakthrough came with "The Girl from Ipanema", which was recorded with Getz. Gilberto's relaxed, sensual vocal style was a major influence on the sound of bossa nova. She went on to record a number of bossa nova standards, including "Corcovado", "Desafinado", and "Wave". She has also recorded a number of Brazilian pop songs, Jazz standards, and bossa nova interpretations of songs by The Beatles, The Beach Boys, and others. Gilberto's daughter, Bebel Gilberto, is also a singer and songwriter. Astrud Gilberto's unique vocal style and her recordings of bossa nova standards have made her one of the most popular and influential Brazilian singers of all time.
3. The song was written by Antonio Carlos Jobim and Vinicius de Moraes
The song "The Girl from Ipanema" was written by Antonio Carlos Jobim and Vinicius de Moraes. The song was originally written in Portuguese, but was later translated into English. The song is about a young woman who is walking on the beach in Ipanema, Brazil. The song has become one of the most popular songs in the world, and has been covered by many artists. Astrud Gilberto's version of the song is considered to be the definitive version. The song was first recorded by Astrud Gilberto in 1963. The song became a hit in Brazil, and later became a global hit. The song has been covered by many artists, including Frank Sinatra, Sting, and Ella Fitzgerald. The song has also been used in many films, including "The Thomas Crown Affair" and "The Talented Mr. Ripley".
4. Gilberto's husband, João Gilberto, was a bossa nova pioneer
From the moment Astrud Gilberto stepped into a recording studio with her then-husband, João Gilberto, she helped to define the sound of bossa nova. João Gilberto was a bossa nova pioneer and Astrud's contributions to their records helped to make them some of the most influential Brazilian music of all time. Astrud's husband João was born in 1931 in the state of Bahia in Brazil. He was exposed to music from a young age, learning to play the guitar and singing in a local church choir. João's mother was a big fan of American jazz and she exposed her son to the music of Duke Ellington, Billie Holiday, and Ella Fitzgerald. All of these influences would later be evident in João's own music. In the early 1950s, João moved to Rio de Janeiro where he became involved in the burgeoning bossa nova scene. He met and played with some of the most important names in bossa nova, including Antonio Carlos Jobim and Luiz Bonfá. João's guitar style was a major innovation in bossa nova and his records with Bonfá, "Samba de Orfeu" and "Maria Ninguém", are considered classics of the genre. In 1963, João and Astrud Gilberto recorded the now-legendary album "Getz/Gilberto" with American saxophonist Stan Getz. The album featured the song "The Girl from Ipanema", which became a worldwide hit and cemented bossa nova's status as a global phenomenon. Astrud's gentle, sensual vocal style was the perfect complement to João's guitar playing and the album's success propelled them both to international stardom. The Gilbertos continued to record and perform together throughout the 1960s and 1970s, and their work remains some of the most essential bossa nova ever recorded. Astrud's contributions to the music are often underrated, but her voice and presence are essential ingredients in the timeless sound of bossa nova.
5. The couple moved to the United States in 1963
After Astrud and João Gilberto moved to the United States in 1963, they continued to live a nomadic lifestyle, moving from one city to the next. In 1965, they settled in New York City, where Astrud recorded her first album as a solo artist. The album, entitled The Astrud Gilberto Album, was a critical and commercial success. It featured the now-famous hit single "The Girl from Ipanema", which propelled Astrud to stardom. The couple continued to tour extensively throughout the United States and Europe. In 1966, they appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show, where they performed "The Girl from Ipanema" to a national audience. The Gilberto's marriage began to unravel during this time, and they eventually divorced in 1969. Despite the personal challenges she faced during this period, Astrud continued to enjoy tremendous success as a recording artist. Her 1968 album, Astrud Gilberto with Stanley Turrentine, is considered to be one of the finest examples of bossa nova jazz. She went on to record several more albums throughout the 1970s and 1980s, cementing her place as one of the most popular and influential Brazilian musicians of her generation.
6. Gilberto continued to record and perform throughout her career
Astrud Gilberto continued to record and perform throughout her career, cementing her place as one of the most popular bossa nova singers of all time. She released a number of well-received albums, including The Astrud Gilberto Album (1965), Look to the Rainbow (1965), and Ipanema (1966). Gilberto also continued to tour, both in Brazil and internationally. In the 1970s, Gilberto began to experiment with other musical styles, such as jazz and pop. She released a number of albums in these genres, including Astrud Gilberto with Stanley Turrentine (1970), Astrud Gilberto Now (1972), and Astrud Gilberto Plus James Last Band (1976). While Gilberto’s foray into other genres was not as successful as her work in bossa nova, she nonetheless demonstrated her versatility as an artist. In the later years of her career, Gilberto returned to her roots, releasing a number of bossa nova albums. She also continued to tour, performing for sold-out crowds around the world. In 2002, Gilberto was inducted into the Latin Recording Academy’s Hall of Fame. She died in 2020 at the age of 88. Gilberto’s career spanned nearly six decades and she left a lasting mark on the world of music. She will be remembered as one of the most influential and popular bossa nova singers of all time.
7. She died in 2020 at the age of 88
Astrud Gilberto, the iconic Brazilian singer and ambassador of bossa nova, died on Saturday, September 5, 2020, at her home in New York City. She was 88 years old. The daughter of two professional musicians, Gilberto began singing and playing piano at a young age. She came to prominence in the early 1960s after she recorded "The Girl from Ipanema" with her then-husband João Gilberto and Brazilian musician Antonio Carlos Jobim. The song became an international hit and helped launch bossa nova into the global spotlight. Gilberto continued to release albums and tour throughout her career, and her music was hailed for its elegant simplicity and beauty. In 1988, she was awarded a Grammy for Best Jazz Vocal Performance for her album Re-Invention. Gilberto's death was announced by her son, Marcelo Gilberto, on Facebook. "It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of my mother, Astrud Gilberto, on Saturday, September 5th, 2020," he wrote. "She was surrounded by her family, including her grandchildren, and passed peacefully at the age of 88. She was a true pioneer and legend in the music world, and her influence will continue to be felt for generations to come." Gilberto's death came just one day after that of another Brazilian music legend, songwriter and singer Caetano Veloso. The two artists were close friends, and Gilberto once said of Veloso, "He is the only one who really knows me."
Astrud Gilberto's performance of "The Girl from Ipanema" single-handedly popularized bossa nova in the United States and around the world. Her signature style, which features a light and airy vocal delivery, has influenced countless singers in the genre. Gilberto's music is the perfect embodiment of the Brazilian sound and her influence on bossa nova is immeasurable.