Brazilian music legend Sergio Mendes, who helped catapult bossa nova onto the global stage in the 1960s with hits including Mas Que Nada, died in Los Angeles at the age of 83, his family said Friday.
Mendess family said the composer and pianist passed away peacefully Thursday at his home, surrounded by his wife and children.
For the last several months, his health had been challenged by the effects of long-term COVID, the statement added.
The three-time Grammy winner, who trained as a classical pianist, arrived on the scene as bossa nova Brazils silky mix of samba and jazz was taking the world by storm, popularized by Joao Gilbertos The Girl From Ipanema among other hits.
Mendess mastery of jazz brought him to the attention of American saxophonist Cannonball Adderley, who chose the Brazilians group Sexteto Rio to record his album Cannonballs Bossa Nova in 1963.
