Brazilian singer Astrud Gilberto, voice behind 'Girl of Ipanema,' dies at 83

By Jorge Antonio Rocha

MEXICO CITY (AA) - Brazilian singer Astrud Gilberto died on Monday at the age of 83 in her home in Philadelphia in the US state of Pennsylvania.

The news of her passing was shared by a family member on social media.

"I come to bring you the sad news that my grandma became a star today and is next to my grandpa João Gilberto," announced Sofia Gilberto, the granddaughter of the "Queen of Bossa Nova," on Instagram.

"At the age of 22, she gave voice to the English version of ‘Girl from 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," she wrote.

Born Astrud Evangelina Weinert in March 1940, the Brazilian icon grew up in Rio de Janeiro, where she met Joao Gilberto, her future husband and the father of Bossa Nova -- a Brazilian genre born within the music scene in Rio, known for its jazz influences and samba rhythms -- who she married shortly after.

The couple emigrated to the US in 1963, and by Gilberto's own account, she began her music career at 22, when Joao asked her to join in the recording of an album by him and American jazz saxophonist Stan Getz, surprising her by asking her to sing the now immortal English chorus for "The Girl From Ipanema."

The song was a notable success and the cornerstone of Bossa Nova and Astrud’s international appeal, and with millions sold, the track was shortly nominated and awarded as record of the year at the 7th Annual Grammy Awards in 1964, with the album "Getz/Gilberto" also winning album of the year.

Gilberto's career was globally acclaimed, and she collaborated with high-profile names such as film music composer Ennio Morricone, jazz legend Chet Baker and English singer-songwriter George Michael. She launched at least 15 original albums throughout her career and toured the world.