For these hours, Brazilian music is in mourning. As reported by Sofía Gilberto, at the age of 83 this Monday, June 5, Astrud Gilberto, the singer who recorded the English version of the mythical Garota de Ipanema, which Tom Jobim and Vinicius de Moraes wrote back in 1962, died.
“Life is beautiful as the music says, but I come to bring the sad news that my grandmother became a star today and is next to my grandfather, Joao Gilberto. Astrud was the real girl who brought the new bossa de Ipanema. She was the pioneer and the best”, were the heartfelt words of the young woman, for whom Astrud Gilberto composed a song: Linda Sofía.
The singer had married the guitarist Joao Gilberto at the age of 19 and she always accompanied him in his presentations. It was on one of those trips that the well-known saxophonist Stan Getz noticed Astrud Gilberto to record the English version of a Brazilian song that he was making a splash: Garota de Ipanema.
She, who had no experience at a professional level, but who sang like gods, accepted and from there Astrud Gilberto began a long artistic career, recording in several languages (including Spanish) and even composing some songs. She was also a painter and advocate for animal rights.
A life full of success
Of a German father and a Brazilian mother, Astrud Gilberto was born in the state of Bahia, but grew up in Rio de Janeiro. With Joao Gilberto she had a son, João Marcelo Gilberto, also a musician, Sofía’s father. When they separated, many said that it was because she had an affair with Stan Getz, but finally it was learned that the guitarist, who had a relationship with Chico Buarque’s sister, was to blame for the separation.