Sérgio Santos Mendes, a renowned Brazilian musician, was born on February 11, 1941. His illustrious career took off with global hits by his group Brasil '66, boasting an impressive discography of over 55 releases.
As a master of fusion, Mendes seamlessly blended bossa nova with jazz and funk, earning him widespread recognition. His remarkable collaboration with The Black Eyed Peas, re-recording the 2006 version of "Mas que Nada", further solidified his status as a versatile artist.
Mendes is married to the talented Gracinha Leporace, who has been his partner in music since the early 1970s. Throughout his career, he has worked with numerous artists, including the legendary Antônio Carlos Jobim, who served as his mentor.
Born in Niterói, Brazil, to a physician, Mendes initially pursued a classical pianist career at the local conservatory. However, his passion for jazz soon led him to play in nightclubs in the late 1950s, coinciding with the emergence of bossa nova, a jazz-infused derivative of samba.
Mendes played alongside Jobim and many U.S. jazz musicians who toured Brazil, eventually forming the Sexteto Bossa Rio and recording Dance Moderno in 1961. His group's European and U.S. tours led to collaborations with Cannonball Adderley and Herbie Mann, as well as a performance at the prestigious Carnegie Hall.
In 1964, Mendes relocated to the United States, where he recorded two albums under the Sergio Mendes & Brasil '65 group name with Capitol Records and Atlantic Records. He became a full partner with Richard Adler, a Brooklyn-born American, and together they formed the group Brasil '65, featuring Wanda Sá, Rosinha de Valença, and the Sergio Mendes Trio.
The group's albums were released on Atlantic and Capitol, and they made a notable appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1963, accompanied by Jobim, Flavio Ramos, and Aloísio de Oliveira. Although the Musicians Union only allowed the group to appear on one TV show and make one club appearance before ordering them to leave the U.S., Mendes and his partners were able to re-form the group with the help of Shelly Manne, Bud Shank, and other West Coast musicians.
