João Gilberto facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
João Gilberto
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Gilberto in 2006
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | João Gilberto do Prado Pereira de Oliveira |
| Born | 10 June 1931 Juazeiro, Bahia, Brazil |
| Died | 6 July 2019 (aged 88) Rio de Janeiro, Brazil |
| Genres | Bossa nova, samba, Latin jazz |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, composer |
| Instruments | Guitar, vocals |
| Years active | 1950–2019 |
| Labels | |
João Gilberto (born João Gilberto do Prado Pereira de Oliveira; 10 June 1931 – 6 July 2019) was a famous Brazilian musician. He was a guitarist, singer, and composer. João Gilberto helped create a new style of music called bossa nova in the late 1950s. People around the world often called him the "father of bossa nova." In Brazil, his home country, he was known as "O Mito" which means "The Legend."
Contents
Early Life and Musical Start
João Gilberto was born in Juazeiro, Brazil, on June 10, 1931. His father was a rich merchant. João got his first guitar when he was 14 years old, even though his father didn't approve.
He formed his first band called "Enamorados do Ritmo" in his hometown. In 1947, João moved to Salvador, Bahia. He stopped his studies to focus only on music. When he was 18, he started his music career as a singer at a radio station.
João Gilberto's Music Career
João Gilberto's first songs were released in Brazil between 1951 and 1959. In 1956, he went back to Rio de Janeiro. There, he met Antônio Carlos Jobim again. Jobim was a composer and producer. He was very impressed with João's new way of playing the guitar.
In 1963, João Gilberto worked with American jazz musician Stan Getz. They made an album together called Getz/Gilberto. It was released in 1964. Jobim played the piano on the album. João's wife at the time, Astrud Gilberto, sang some parts in English. João sang in Portuguese. Astrud was only at the studio to be with her husband. But João asked her to sing because he couldn't sing in English. They sang a duet on the song "The Girl from Ipanema." This song became a huge hit from the album.
At the 7th Annual Grammy Awards, Getz/Gilberto won three awards. It even won Album of the Year. This was the first time a jazz album won that award!
João Gilberto was known for being very particular about sound. He wanted everything to sound perfect. In 2001, he won another Grammy Award for Best World Music Album. This was for his album João Voz e Violão. A year later, he was added to the International Latin Music Hall of Fame.
In 2003, João Gilberto performed four shows in Japan. One of his performances was recorded for a live album called In Tokyo. In 2017, he received an honorary music degree from Columbia University.
How João Gilberto Shaped Bossa Nova
João Gilberto played a very important part in creating bossa nova. When microphones and amplifiers became common in Brazil, he realized something. He understood that singers and instruments didn't need to be super loud. This allowed for a softer, more personal way of singing and playing.
In 1958, a singer named Elizete Cardoso released an album. João Gilberto played guitar on two songs on that album. These were the first recordings to feature the special "bossa nova beat." Later that year, João Gilberto released his own record with the songs "Chega de Saudade" and "Bim Bom." This record officially started the "bossa nova" music style. It quickly became very popular.
João Gilberto also changed how music was recorded. He used two microphones: one for his voice and one for his guitar. Before him, most songs used only one microphone. This made the voice much louder than the guitar. With two microphones, his voice and guitar could be heard equally. This helped make the bossa nova sound unique.
João Gilberto's Musical Style
João Gilberto's music mixed traditional samba sounds with modern jazz. His guitar playing was very special. He used a syncopated rhythm, which means the beats were a bit off-beat. He also used chord progressions often found in jazz music.
His singing style was described as "laid-back and understated." This means it was relaxed and not too loud or showy. In 2023, Rolling Stone magazine named him one of the 200 Greatest Singers of All Time. Many people say his music brought a feeling of hope and happiness to Brazil.
Personal Life
João Gilberto was married to singer Astrud Gilberto. They had a son named João Marcelo. After they divorced, he married another singer, Miúcha. They had a daughter named Bebel Gilberto, who is also a singer. João also had another daughter with a journalist named Claudia Faissol.
João Gilberto passed away on July 6, 2019, in his apartment in Rio de Janeiro. He was buried in Niterói after a private ceremony. Many people remember him as one of Brazil's greatest musicians. His music reminded people of happier times.
Discography
João Gilberto released many studio and live albums:
- 1951: Quando Você Recordar/Amar é Bom
- 1951: Anjo Cruel/Sem Ela
- 1952: Quando Ela Sai/Meia Luz
- 1958: Chega de Saudade/Bim Bom
- 1958: Desafinado/Hô-bá-lá-lá
- 1959: João Gilberto Cantando as Musicás do Filme Orfeo do Carnaval
- 1959: Chega de Saudade
- 1960: O Amor, o Sorriso e a Flor
- 1961: João Gilberto
- 1962: Boss of Bossa Nova
- 1962: Bossa Nova at Carnegie Hall
- 1963: The Warm World of João Gilberto
- 1964: Getz/Gilberto (with Stan Getz)
- 1965: Herbie Mann & João Gilberto with Antônio Carlos Jobim
- 1966: Getz/Gilberto Vol. 2 (with Stan Getz)
- 1970: João Gilberto en México
- 1973: João Gilberto
- 1976: The Best of Two Worlds (with Stan Getz)
- 1976: Amoroso
- 1977: Gilberto and Jobim
- 1980: João Gilberto Prado Pereira de Oliveira
- 1981: Brasil (with Caetano Veloso, Gilberto Gil and Maria Bethânia)
- 1985: Interpreta Tom Jobim
- 1985: Meditação
- 1986: Live in Montreux
- 1987: Live in Montreux
- 1988: O Mito
- 1990: Stan Getz Meets João & Astrud Gilberto
- 1991: João
- 1994: Eu Sei que Vou Te Amar
- 1996: Live at Umbria Jazz
- 2000: João Voz e Violão
- 2004: In Tokyo
- 2007: For Tokyo – edited only in Japan
- 2015: Um encontro no Au bon gourmet
- 2016: Getz/Gilberto '76 (with Stan Getz)
- 2023: Relicário: João Gilberto ao vivo no SESC (05 abr 1998)
Awards
| Award | Year | Recipient or nominee | Category | Result | Ref. |
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| Grammy Awards | 1965 | Getz/Gilberto | Album of the Year | Won | |
| Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical | Won | ||||
| Best Jazz Instrumental Album | Won | ||||
| Grammy Awards | 2001 | João voz e violão | Best World Music Album | Won | [1] |
Images for kids
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Gilberto in 2006
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João Gilberto and Stan Getz in New York (1972).
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Gilberto in concert, 1996
See also
In Spanish: João Gilberto para niños
