Sergio Mendes – Sérgio Santos Mendes (born February 11, 1941) is a Brazilian musician. His career took off with worldwide hits by his band Brasil ’66. He has over 55 releases and plays bossa nova heavily crossed with jazz and funk. He was nominated for an Oscar for Best Original Song in 2012 as co-writer of the song “Real in Rio” from the animated film Rio.
He started out playing in nightclubs in the late 1950s just as bossa nova was emerging. Mendes played many U.S. jazz musicians who toured Brazil.
In 1961 he formed a sextet and they toured Europe and the US. 1964 saw Sergio permanently more to the US and brought together musicians to create Sergio Mendes & Brasil ’65 which later became Sergio Mendes & Brasil ’66.
The band’s line up often changed and they developed a more orchestral sound.
Mendes really burst into mainstream prominence when he performed the Oscar-nominated “The Look of Love” on TV in 1968. Brasil ’66’s version of the song quickly shot into the top 10, peaking at No. 4. Mendes spent the rest of 1968 enjoying consecutive top 10 and top 20 hits.
Mendes is married to Gracinha Leporace, who has performed with him since the early 1970s. Mendes has also collaborated with many artists through the years, including The Black Eyed Peas, with whom he re-recorded in 2006 a version of his breakthrough hit “Mas que Nada“. On the UK Singles Chart, the song entered at No. 29 and peaked at No. 6 during its second week on the chart.
Backing Tracks – Look Of Love … Never Gonna Let You Go
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