Astrud Gilberto
- Origin
- Salvador, BA
- Years active
- 1960–2002
- Genres
- bossa nova, jazz, MPB
- Instruments
- vocals
Biography
Astrud Gilberto was a world-renowned Brazilian singer who became the global face of bossa nova. Born in Salvador, Bahia, she moved to Rio de Janeiro as a child, where she grew up in a multilingual and musical household. Despite her natural shyness, she was encouraged to sing by her close friend Nara Leão. She married the legendary musician João Gilberto in 1959, who also became a major supporter of her vocal talent.\n\nHer career took a historic turn in 1963 when she traveled to the United States to participate in the landmark album 'Getz/Gilberto'. Although she had never sung professionally before, her soft, English-language rendition of 'The Girl from Ipanema' (with arrangements by Tom Jobim) became an international sensation. This performance earned her the Grammy for Song of the Year in 1965, making her the first woman to ever win the prestigious award. \n\nFollowing her initial success, Gilberto launched a prolific solo career that spanned decades and included eighteen studio albums. While she was primarily known for bossa nova and jazz standards, she began recording her own compositions in the 1970s. Although she lived most of her life in the United States and focused her career abroad, her influence on Brazilian music remains monumental. In her later years, she also dedicated herself to visual arts and animal rights activism before her passing in 2023.