(CNN) – Sérgio Mendes, singer and composer who helped popularize music bossa nova from his native Brazil, died Thursday in Los Angeles, his family said in a statement to CNN. He was 83.
“His wife and musical partner of the past 54 years, Gracinha Leporace Mendes, was at his side, as were his beloved children,” the family statement said.
The message adds that he had recently been battling the effects of long Covid.
Mendes recorded more than 35 albums over his six-decade career. He last performed to crowds in Paris, London and Barcelona in 2023.
“There’s a word in English that I love: serendipity,” reads a quote from Mendes on his website. “That’s the story of my life.”
Mendes was born in Niteroi, Brazil, in 1941. He studied classical music in his youth and developed an affinity for jazz music after hearing a Dave Brubeck record, according to your website.
He began playing in trios and quartets before moving to the United States with his group Brasil '66. Their Portuguese-language single “Mas Que Nada” brought them success, along with the hit “The Look of Love.”
Mendes collaborated with a star-studded list of artists over the years, including Herb Albert, Frank Sinatra, Quincy Jones, Burt Bacharach, and Stevie Wonder. Some of his other memorable songs include “Scarborough Fair,” “Night and Day,” and “Never Gonna Let You Go.”
The documentary of 2020 “Sergio Mendes: In the key of joy” explored his career and his work with other contemporary artists, including will.i.am, Common and John Legend. Mendes and Legend received an Oscar nomination in 2012 for best original song for “Real in Rio” from the animated film “Rio.”
Mendes reflected on the longevity of his career and his many musical collaborations in a 2020 interview with National Public Radio.
“I’ve been very fortunate to have had those experiences because it’s enriched my life. Working with different people from different countries, from different cultures, I think it just helps you grow and learn new things… I love that because you don’t schedule it; it’s about the magical encounter,” Mendes said. “I think that’s a beautiful thing in life.”
This story has been updated.
