Astrud Gilberto, the Brazilian singer known for her iconic recording of the song “The Girl from Ipanema,” has sadly passed away at the age of 83. Although “The Girl from Ipanema” was her only major hit, it remains one of the most famous and influential bossa nova recordings in history.
Born Astrud Evangelina Weinert on March 29, 1940, in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil, Gilberto married João Gilberto, the renowned Brazilian guitarist known as the “father of bossa nova,” in 1959. It was during a trip to New York City with João that Astrud’s career took an unexpected turn.
While in New York, João was recording an album with American saxophonist Stan Getz titled “Getz/Gilberto.” Getz had the idea to record an English-language version of Antonio Carlos Jobim’s bossa nova song “Garota de Ipanema.” Because Astrud could sing in English, she was asked to provide vocals alongside her husband. Little did she know that this would be her first professional recording.
Astrud’s dreamy vocals on “The Girl from Ipanema” made the song an immediate standout. It was later released as a single featuring just her voice, and it became an international hit. The song reached #5 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the US and charted highly around the world. It even won the Grammy Award for Song of the Year and was nominated for Best Vocal Performance by a Female.
Despite her critical contribution to the song’s success, Astrud was not properly credited nor compensated for her work. She received no credit on the original album pressing, and Stan Getz, who made an estimated million dollars off the track, ensured that she received nothing.
But today, Astrud Gilberto is recognized as the key to the song’s success. Brazilian history professor Bryan McCann wrote in his book “Getz/Gilberto” that “it was Astrud Gilberto who made the album a smash hit” and that she provided an allure that made the album irresistible.
“The Girl from Ipanema” went on to become one of the most popular songs of all time, second only to The Beatles’ “Yesterday” in terms of its number of cover versions. Astrud’s recording also played a significant role in popularizing Brazilian bossa nova music with American audiences.
Although Astrud Gilberto never surpassed the success of “The Girl from Ipanema,” she continued to have a successful music career over the next few decades while residing in the United States.
On June 5, Astrud Gilberto passed away at the age of 83. Her friend and fellow musician Paul Ricci confirmed the news on Facebook, on behalf of her son Marcelo. Astrud’s legacy as a groundbreaking singer and her contributions to Brazilian music will never be forgotten.
Let us remember and honor the beautiful voice and iconic song of Astrud Gilberto. Please share her story in her memory.
