Renowned Singer Astrud Gilberto, Famous for The Girl from Ipanema, Passes Away at 83

Brazilian Singer Astrud Gilberto, Famous for "The Girl from Ipanema," Passes Away at 83

Astrud Gilberto, the renowned Brazilian singer who gained worldwide fame for her rendition of "The Girl from Ipanema," passed away on Monday at the age of 83.

The news of her death was confirmed by family friend and musician Paul Ricci to the Associated Press. The cause of Gilberto's death was not disclosed.

Although Gilberto was a talented amateur singer, she had never released any recordings until she collaborated with her then-husband, João Gilberto, and saxophonist Stan Getz to record "The Girl from Ipanema."

While the song had already been recorded in Portuguese, the two men believed that an English version could have global appeal. However, there was one hurdle: neither of them spoke English fluently.

In 1963, during a visit to a recording studio in New York City, Gilberto was invited by her husband, who promised her a surprise. She recalled the moment on her website, stating, "As they were in the midst of going over the song 'The Girl from Ipanema,' João casually asked me to join in and sing a chorus in English after he had just sung the first chorus in Portuguese. So, I did just that."

Once they finished performing the song, João turned to Stan and proposed, "Tomorrow Astrud sings on record... what do you think?" Stan was receptive and enthusiastic, believing it to be a fantastic idea. And as they say, the rest is history.

"The Girl from Ipanema" became a global sensation, catapulting Gilberto to instant stardom. The song reached No. 5 on the U.S. Top 100 charts and earned the Grammy Award for Record of the Year in 1965.

Born on March 29, 1940, in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil, Gilberto grew up in a musically talented family. She spent her childhood in Rio de Janeiro before moving to New York City, where she met her future husband. They were married from 1959 to 1964.

João Gilberto, known as the "Father of Bossa Nova," was part of a community of Brazilian musicians and songwriters in the city, and Astrud Gilberto would often sing at their gatherings.

Following the life-changing recording of "The Girl from Ipanema," Gilberto embarked on a successful music career. Her debut album, "The Astrud Gilberto Album," was released in 1965 and also received a Grammy nomination.

Later in life, Gilberto grew weary of her international fame and chose to keep her private life private. In 2002, she gave her final interview to a group of close friends, expressing her deep respect and love for her fans and emphasizing that her work spoke for itself, regardless of how it was perceived.