RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Sergio Mendes, the celebrated Brazilian musician whose 1966 hit “Mas Que Nada” made him a global superstar and helped launched a long, Grammy-winning career, has died after months battling the effects of long COVID. He was 83.
The death Thursday of the Brazilian pianist, songwriter and arranger was confirmed in a statement by his family.
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RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Sergio Mendes, the celebrated Brazilian musician whose 1966 hit “Mas Que Nada” made him a global superstar and helped launched a long, Grammy-winning career, has died after months battling the effects of long COVID. He was 83.
FILE - Sergio Mendes holds up his Gramophone trophy at the Grammy Awards show held at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, on Feb. 24, 1993. (AP Photo/Reed Saxon, File)
FILE - Sergio Mendes performs with his wife, Gracinha Leporace, center, at the Castello di Amorosa in Calistoga, Calif., on Wednesday, July 20, 2016, as part of the Festival Napa Valley. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg, File)
FILE - Bossa Nova piano maestro Sergio Mendes sits for a portrait at his home in Woodland Hills, Calif., on Feb. 7, 2006. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes, File)
FILE - Brazilian musician Sergio Mendes sits for a portrait at home in Los Angeles, May 18, 2021. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello, File)
“His wife and musical partner for the past 54 years, Gracinha Leporace Mendes, was by his side, as were his loving children,” the statement Friday said. “Mendes last performed in November 2023 to sold out and wildly enthusiastic houses in Paris, London and Barcelona.”
Mendes was born in Niterói, Rio de Janeiro’s sister city, and studied classical music at a conservatory before joining jazz groups. In the late 1950s and early 1960s, he began playing Bossa Nova as the genre was heating up in Rio’s nightclub scene with Antonio Carlos Jobim, João Gilberto and others.
In 1962, they traveled to New York for a Bossa Nova festival at Carnegie Hall. During the trip, Cannonball Adderley invited Mendes to collaborate on the album “Cannonball Adderley and The Bossa Rio Sextet,” leading to his first American record, “The Swinger from Rio,” after signing with Atlantic Records.
Two years later, Mendes moved to California and formed Brazil ’64, which evolved into Brazil ’66 after he added two female vocalists. The group’s debut album, produced by Herb Alpert, featured “Mas Que Nada.” Sung entirely in Portuguese, “Mas Que Nada” was a mid-tempo Samba number originally released in 1963 by composer Jorge Ben Sor, and updated three years later by Mendes, who had been playing the song in clubs and gave it a jazzier, more hard-hitting feel.
“I put a band together called Brasil ’66,” he told The Guardian in 2019. “I’d always had instrumental groups, but when I added the two female singers – Lani Hall and Bibi Vogel – it made a different kind of sound. We recorded the song in Los Angeles, with me, the drums, bass and guitar all performing live.”
Mendes’ version was a worldwide hit that helped perpetuate the Brazilian music boom of the 1960s. In 2006, a modern version of the song topped U.S. charts, as performed by Black Eyed Peas. It was included in his album “Timeless,” produced by will.i.am and also featuring Stevie Wonder, Justin Timberlake and John Legend, among others.
“Sergio Mendes was my brother from another country,” trumpet player Alpert wrote on Facebook, along with a photo from decades ago, sitting next to Mendes at the piano. “He was a true friend and extremely gifted musician who brought Brazilian music in all its iterations to the entire world with elegance.”
Mendes’ other hits were an eclectic blend ranging from covers of the Beatles’ “The Fool on the Hill” and “With a Little Help from My Friends,” to his own Brazilian chant, “Magalenha.” Mendes also composed the soundtrack for the film “Pelé,” featuring saxophonist Gerry Mulligan, and even produced an album recorded by the great Brazilian soccer player.
Mendes won the 1992 Grammy Award for Best World Music Album for “Brasileiro” and two Latin Grammy Awards. He also received an Oscar nomination in 2012 for Best Original Song for “Real in Rio,” from the animated film “Rio.”
“Brazilian soul was there,” pianist, singer, and songwriter Marcos Valle told GloboNews about Mendes’ music. Valle also noted that it was Mendes who helped open doors for other Brazilian artists of his generation, including himself, to reach foreign audiences.
Mendes’ family said they will provide details regarding funeral and memorial services at a later date.
FILE - Sergio Mendes stands for a portrait in Los Angeles on Aug. 27, 2014. (Photo by Omar Vega/Invision/AP, File)
FILE - Sergio Mendes holds up his Gramophone trophy at the Grammy Awards show held at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, on Feb. 24, 1993. (AP Photo/Reed Saxon, File)
FILE - Sergio Mendes performs with his wife, Gracinha Leporace, center, at the Castello di Amorosa in Calistoga, Calif., on Wednesday, July 20, 2016, as part of the Festival Napa Valley. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg, File)
FILE - Bossa Nova piano maestro Sergio Mendes sits for a portrait at his home in Woodland Hills, Calif., on Feb. 7, 2006. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes, File)
FILE - Brazilian musician Sergio Mendes sits for a portrait at home in Los Angeles, May 18, 2021. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello, File)
NEW YORK (AP) — The 76th Primetime Emmy Awards are over, with “Shogun” claiming the top drama prize and “Hacks” winning best comedy.
The hosts, father-son duo Eugene and Dan Levy, opened the show Sunday night. They won Emmys at the 2020 awards for “Schitt’s Creek.”
“Shogun,” “The Bear” and “Baby Reindeer” were favorites going into the night. “Shogun” emerged with the top drama prize and “Baby Reindeer” snagged the limited series trophy. “Shogun″ extended its lead for most wins by a show in a single season, collecting 18 Emmys this year.
But “Hacks" emerged as the top comedy series, denying “The Bear” a comedy series repeat.
The Emmys are back in their traditional mid-September spot after a single strike-delayed edition in January.
The show began at 8 p.m., Eastern time, and is airing on ABC from the Peacock Theater in downtown Los Angeles.
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“I’m blessed with all the people around me who helped me make it happen. I kind of just feel a bit overwhelmed right now. I wasn’t expecting this,” Richard Gadd said backstage after his three wins for “Baby Reindeer.” “I’m just so glad that the show has touched the lives of so many people, and the Academy have acknowledged it in this way. It’s the greatest night of my life. What can I say?”
Gadd also initially declined to answer a question about the $170 million defamation lawsuit Netflix is facing for the show, but then spoke to its impact. The lawsuit comes from the woman who claims to be the inspiration for the series, which is based off of Gadd’s life and experience with a woman who stalked him.
“It’s easy in this day and age to focus on the negatives,” he said before saying the show has driven some viewers to donate to sexual assault and stalking-focused charities and has done “phenomenal things worldwide for so many people.”
Hiroyuki Sanada is the first Japanese actor to win the Emmy for best actor in a drama.
“I am beyond honored to be here with amazing nominees,” he said. “‘Shogun’ taught me when we work together, we can make miracles. We can create a better future together.”
Sanada received a standing ovation from the crowd.
Anna Sawai is the first Japanese actor to win best actress in a drama. The actor, who is a first-time nominee, was tearful throughout her speech.
“I was crying before my name was announced. I’m a mess today,” she said.
“This to all the women who expect nothing and continue to be an example for everyone,” she added.
“Shogun” also won best drama series.
John Oliver, who won scripted variety series for "Last Week Tonight with John Oliver,'' said he was ‘honestly’ happy to get the cue to wrap up when he mentioned his dog during his acceptance speech.
“I’m not well versed in sincerity, as a British person and as a comedian, so I didn’t really want to get upset and thankfully, whoever was on that board, I think said, ‘You can’t carry this off’ and walked me straight into a joke. So, I’m very, very grateful that they gave me the parachute so I could avoid my feelings once more. But yeah, we had a great dog, and we had to say goodbye this week, and it’s brutal,” he said backstage.
In his acceptance, Oliver dedicated his Emmy to his recently deceased dog — and “all dogs.” He quarreled with the play-off music in a bleeped exchange.
Lamorne Morris, star of “Fargo,” is taking home his first Emmy award on his first nomination.
The “New Girl” star was clearly flustered as he accepted the award, saying he has a poster of fellow nominee Robert Downey Jr. in his house and asked him to sign it.
“My beautiful daughter, Lily. I love you. I told you I would do it. You’ve always doubted me,” he joked.
The breakout star from Netflix’s most recent season of “Bridgerton,” Nicola Coughlan added an Artists4Ceasefire red pin to her glittering off-the-shoulder gown. Coughlan has been outspoken in supporting Palestinians and calling for a cease-fire.
Actors across the award season have been wearing the Artists4Ceasefire red pin with a hand holding a heart to demand a cease-fire in Gaza and a release of the Israeli hostages.
Ahead of the premiere of the 50th season of “Saturday Night Live” on Sept. 28, cast members from the sketch show’s storied history have gathered for an unforgettable reunion.
Former members Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph and Seth Meyers joined current regular Bowen Yang onstage.
The segment leans into the January Emmys’ nostalgia-laden programming, which included Tina Fey and Amy Poehler presenting an award in the style of SNL’s famed “Weekend Update,” along with the casts of “Cheers,” “Martin” and other hit shows reuniting.
Jessica Gunning, who haunts as stalker Martha on “Baby Reindeer,” accepts the Emmy for her performance from a group of actors who have portrayed iconic villains in a fitting pairing. She got emotional as she thanked Richard Gadd, the star and creator of the series.
“I tried so many times to put into words what working on ‘Baby Reindeer’ meant to me and I fail every time,” she said. “It really means a lot. So, thank you, reindeer.”
“Today, a Republican vice president would never attack a woman for having kids. So, as they say, my work here is done,” Candice Bergen wryly said before presenting the lead actress in a comedy series award.
She was referring to her Murphy Brown character being attacked by then-Vice President Dan Quayle for being a single mom.
Her subsequent “meow” got a big laugh and applause from the audience, including Jon Stewart.
For more on this year’s Emmy Awards, visit: https://apnews.com/hub/emmy-awards
Richard Gadd accepts the award for outstanding lead actor in a limited or anthology series or movie for "Baby Reindeer" during the 76th Primetime Emmy Awards on Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
Hiroyuki Sanada accepts the award for outstanding lead actor in a drama series for "Shogun" during the 76th Primetime Emmy Awards on Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
Anna Sawai accepts the award for outstanding lead actress in a drama series for "Shogun" during the 76th Primetime Emmy Awards on Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
Hosts Eugene Levy, left, and Dan Levy speak during the 76th Primetime Emmy Awards on Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
