(Rio de Janeiro) Sergio Mendes, the Grammy-winning Brazilian musician whose success But What Nothing made him an international legend, died after battling the effects of long COVID for months. He was 83.
The death of the Brazilian pianist, songwriter and arranger on Thursday was confirmed in a statement by his family.
“His wife and musical partner of the past 54 years, Gracinha Leporace Mendes, was by his side, as were his beloved children,” the statement said Friday.
“Mendes last performed in November 2023 to sold-out and enthusiastic audiences in Paris, London and Barcelona.”
Its composition But nothing was one of the songs that helped popularize the Brazilian bossa nova musical genre worldwide during the 1960s.
In 2006, a modern version of the song performed by the Black Eyed Peas reached the top of the US charts. It was included on their album Timelessproduced by will.i.am and featuring Stevie Wonder, Justin Timberlake and the Black Eyed Peas, among others.
“Sergio Mendes was my brother from another country,” trumpeter Herb Alpert wrote on Facebook, along with a photo taken decades ago of him sitting next to Mendes at the piano.
“He was a true friend and an extremely gifted musician who brought Brazilian music in all its versions to the world with elegance.”
Mendes also composed the film’s soundtrack. Pelewith saxophonist Gerry Mulligan, and even produced an album recorded by the legendary Brazilian footballer.
Mendes won the Grammy Award for Best World Music Album for Brazilian in 1992 and two Latin Grammy Awards.
He also received an Oscar nomination in 2012 for Best Original Song for Real in Riotaken from the animated film Rio.