Gilberto had no professional experience when she recorded the iconic track that brought Brazilian bossa nova to the US.
Her granddaughter Sofia Gilbertoannounced the news in an Instagram poston Monday, alongside a voice recording of Astrud singing.
“My grandma Astrud Gilberto made this song for me,” Gilberto wrote in Portuguese.
Astrud Gilberto.David Redfern/Redferns
“It’s called Linda Sofia.
She even wanted my name to be Linda Sofia.
[She] is next to my grandfather Joao Gilberto.”
Astrud Gilberto.Michael Ochs Archives/Getty
Gilberto added, “Astrud was the true girl who took bossa nova from Ipanema to the world.
A cause of death has not been disclosed.
Astrud who had no professional recording experience happened to be in the room.
“Producer Creed Taylor said he wanted to get the song done right away and looked around the room.
Astrud volunteered, saying she could sing in English.
Creed said, ‘Great.’
Astrud wasn’t a professional singer, but she was the only victim sitting there that night.”
The original version of the song, intended as a demo, was a duet with her husband.
The track became a global hit and boosted the profile of bossa nova music internationally.
Astrud and Joao divorced in 1964.
“The Girl From Ipanema” was her only major hit, selling more than 2 million copies.
