Brazil, or the Federative Republic of Brazil, the largest country in South America and in Latin America, with a population of a little over 21.43 crores in the year 2021 as per World Bank’s data, is home to some of the world’s most lively and vibrant cultures. Its stunning beaches, breathtaking rainforests, diverse cities, and iconic historical landmarks make it worth all the hype.
The music prevalent in Brazil mostly shows European, African, and Indian influences but is dominated by original music genres like Samba, which is a rich African style of music mixed with Portuguese and Indian influences. Bossa Nova is another notable genre that thrives in this country, which is a blend of American Jazz and Brazilian Samba that became popular in the 1960s.
As the music in Brazil became more refined throughout the late 1860s and early 1900s, and the rise to international fame of several ancient Brazilian musicians like Antonietta Rudge, Brasilio Itibere da Cunha, and Camargo Guarnieri opened the floodgates for other aspiring young musicians to showcase their extraordinary talents. Among these is the immensely gifted Samba and Bossa Nova singer and songwriter Astrud Gilberto. She rose to fame in the mid-1960s due to her dreamy voice and unique interpretation of music.
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A brief history of the Singer’s professional life
Born on 29th March 1940 in Salvador, in the Brazilian state of Bahia, she was named Astrud Evangelina Weinert at the time of her birth. Raised in Rio de Janeiro by a Brazilian mother and a German father, Astrud was not entirely a novice as she grew up immersed in music and watching her mother play multiple instruments. Besides being a gifted musician, she knew several languages as well, all thanks to her father and the fact that he was a language professor at the university. She often sang with João in Brazil and also performed at a concert at the Faculdade de Arquitetura.
Much of her rise to international fame can be credited to her recording of the pre-existing song “The Girl from Ipanema,” which became even more popular after her version of the song was released. Her dreamy vocal and steadfast, whispery voice is what garnered humungous praise from fans. “The Girl from Ipanema” earned a Grammy Award for Record of the Year and a nomination for Best Vocal Performance by a Female, all because of Gilberto and her loyal fanbase.
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Astrud Gilberto’s personal life and all her love affairs
In 1959, she got married to João Gilberto, and they had a son together, João Marcelo Gilberto, who would later become a part of his mother’s band. Unfortunately, the couple got divorced in the mid-1960s following João Gilberto’s affair with Brazilian singer Miúcha. She gave marriage a second try and gave birth to her second son Gregory Lasorsa, who also followed in his mother’s footsteps and pursued music as a career.
Her second marriage also failed, due to which she later got involved with her husband’s musical collaborator, American jazz saxophone player Stan Getz. Astrud came out and claimed that Stan was an abusive man while the pair was on tour together. He even underpaid the singer, and that too at the height of her fame. Her very skilled lawyer Allan Arrow immediately arranged to get her discharged from the tour’s contract. In 1963, she immigrated to the United States, and she has continued to live there ever since.
Her musical career was nothing short of magnificent. She became the recipient of the Latin Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in the year 2008. From then on, Gilberto devoted her life to various noble causes and became an advocate of animal rights. Sadly, she passed away at her home in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on 5 June 2023, aged 83, and the cause of her death remains a mystery to date.
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Some of Gilberto’s most famous songs
Besides her version of “The Girl from Ipanema,” which went on to become a global hit. It sold more than five million copies worldwide and contributed significantly to boosting the profile of bossa nova music internationally.
Her most well-loved songs include It might as well be spring, Agua de Beber, The Shadow of Your Smile, Maria Quiet, Berimbau, A Certain Sadness, and a version of Fly Me to the Moon that was featured in one of the legendary Frank Sinatra’s albums. She went on to record an impressive discography of 16 studio albums and two live records during the course of her career. She remained active till 2002.
Astrud Gilberto’s Net Worth
As of 2023, the Queen Brazilian Bossa Nova had a net worth of $7 million dollars before she died. Her wealth is a product of her successful career as one of the most iconic singers in Brazilian history. Her disarmingly honest and distinct voice made her the Samba legend of the century.
The official face of Bossa Nova on a global scale, her individual influence is indescribable and everlasting, to say the least. It is an undeniable fact that Astrud Gilberto left an indelible mark on the world, and she was deeply loved and will definitely be missed.
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