Brazilian Music Icon Sérgio Mendes Dies at 83

Sérgio Mendes, the Brazilian musician who popularized bossa nova worldwide in the 1960s with his band Brasil `66, has died at age 83. His family confirmed he passed away peacefully in Los Angeles, following health issues related to long-term Covid. Mendes last performed in late 2023 in Europe to enthusiastic audiences. Musicians from Brazil and beyond paid tribute, including Milton Nascimento and Marcos Valle, who praised Mendes as a pioneer of Brazilian music. Mendes leaves behind a legacy of bridging Brazilian rhythms with global audiences.