Astrud Gilberto

Astrud Gilberto 1966 (cropped)

Astrud Gilberto (born Astrud Evangelina Weinert; March 29, 1940 – June 5, 2023) was a Brazilian samba and bossa nova singer. She gained international fame in the 1960s with her recording of "The Girl from Ipanema," which became a worldwide hit and won a Grammy Award.

Early Life

Astrud Gilberto was born in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil, and was raised in Rio de Janeiro. She was the daughter of a Brazilian mother and a German father. Her father was a language professor, and her mother was a singer. Astrud grew up in a musical environment and was exposed to various genres of music from an early age.

Career

Astrud Gilberto's career began in the early 1960s when she was married to Brazilian musician João Gilberto. She accompanied him to the United States in 1963, where he was recording with American jazz saxophonist Stan Getz. During the recording session for the album Getz/Gilberto, Astrud was invited to sing the English lyrics of "The Girl from Ipanema." Her soft, sultry voice and the song's catchy melody made it an instant hit.

Following the success of "The Girl from Ipanema," Astrud Gilberto pursued a solo career. She released several albums, including The Astrud Gilberto Album (1965), Look to the Rainbow (1966), and A Certain Smile, a Certain Sadness (1967). Her music often featured a blend of bossa nova, samba, and jazz, and she collaborated with many notable musicians, including Antonio Carlos Jobim, Gil Evans, and Walter Wanderley.

Personal Life

Astrud Gilberto was married to João Gilberto from 1959 to 1964, and they had one son, João Marcelo Gilberto. She later had another son, Gregory Lasorsa, with her second husband. Astrud lived in the United States for most of her life and became a U.S. citizen.

Legacy

Astrud Gilberto is widely regarded as one of the most influential voices in bossa nova music. Her recordings have been celebrated for their timeless quality and have introduced millions of listeners to Brazilian music. "The Girl from Ipanema" remains one of the most covered songs in music history and continues to be a standard in both jazz and popular music.

Discography

• The Astrud Gilberto Album (1965)
• Look to the Rainbow (1966)
• A Certain Smile, a Certain Sadness (1967)
• Beach Samba (1967)
• Windy (1968)
• September 17, 1969 (1969)
• Astrud Gilberto with Turrentine (1971)
• Now (1972)
• That Girl from Ipanema (1977)
• Astrud Gilberto Plus the James Last Orchestra (1986)

See Also

• Bossa nova
• Samba
• João Gilberto
• Stan Getz
• Antonio Carlos Jobim