João Gilberto Prado Pereira de Oliveira, widely recognized as João Gilberto, is a Brazilian singer, songwriter, and guitarist of immense talent and influence. Born on June 10, 1931, he has spent his illustrious career shaping the musical genre of bossa nova, a refined and sophisticated style of samba that emphasizes melodic and harmonic content over percussive rhythm.
Bossa nova, which translates to "new style," is a genre that João Gilberto has helped to define through his unique approach to music. He often eschews traditional Afro-Brazilian percussive instruments, instead opting to use his guitar as a percussive and harmonic instrument, incorporating the parts of different samba percussion instruments such as the tamborim and the surdo from a full batucada band.
João Gilberto's singing style is characterized by its whisper-like quality, economical phrasing, and the absence of vibrato. He creates tempo tensions by singing ahead or behind the beat, adding an extra layer of complexity and emotional depth to his performances.
Despite his relatively rare public appearances, João Gilberto continues to mesmerize sell-out crowds in Brazil, Europe, North America, and Japan with his intimate and captivating stage presence. However, his planned public performances in Madrid (2009) and New York City (2010) were unfortunately cancelled with short notice, and a 2011 mini-tour of Brazil was also cancelled due to health reasons.
João Gilberto is the proud father of singer Bebel Gilberto (Isabel),born to his marriage with Miúcha. His legacy as a musician and his influence on the genre of bossa nova continue to be celebrated and recognized to this day.
Source: Wikipedia
