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Astrud GilbertoJazz musician
Date of Birth: 30.03.1940
Country:  Brazil |
Content:
- Astrud Gilberto: A Brazilian-American Singer and Composer
- The Girl from Ipanema
- Solo Career and Other Endeavors
- Expanding into Songwriting
- The 1980s and Beyond
Astrud Gilberto: A Brazilian-American Singer and Composer
Early Life and CareerAstrud Gilberto, also known as "The Girl from Ipanema," is a Brazilian-American singer and composer known for her contributions to the samba and bossa nova genres. She was born in the northwest of Brazil, in the state of Bahia, to a German father and a Brazilian mother. Astrud grew up in Rio de Janeiro and emigrated to the United States in the early 1960s.
The Girl from Ipanema
Astrud Gilberto gained fame in 1964 with the recording of the song "The Girl from Ipanema," featuring saxophonist Stan Getz and guitarist Joao Gilberto (who later became her husband). The song quickly became a hit and earned her a Grammy Award. Despite her limited professional experience at the time, Astrud's unique and sincere voice captivated audiences, and the song became a super hit in America that summer.
Solo Career and Other Endeavors
Following the success of "The Girl from Ipanema," Astrud Gilberto embarked on a successful solo career. Her first solo album, "The Astrud Gilberto Album," became a bestseller and was nominated for Album of the Year. Subsequent albums released annually continued to top the charts.
Astrud's talents extended beyond singing. She appeared in films such as "The Hanged Man" and "Get Yourself a College Girl" and provided the soundtrack for the film "The Deadly Affair." She also made guest appearances on various American TV shows and had her own television program. Additionally, Astrud was the voice of Eastern Airlines for many years.
Expanding into Songwriting
In the early 1970s, Astrud Gilberto began writing her own songs. She showcased her songwriting skills on albums such as "Astrud Gilberto Now" (1972) and "That Girl From Ipanema" (1977). The latter album featured a duet with legendary jazz trumpeter Chet Baker, which was a memorable moment in her career. In 1976, one of Astrud's songs, "Live Today" (co-written with Jerome Schur), won an award at the Tokyo Music Festival.
The 1980s and Beyond
In the early 1980s, Astrud Gilberto formed her own band, a sextet consisting of piano, bass, drums, trombone, guitar, and percussion. With this lineup, she toured Europe, Japan, Canada, and the United States. Astrud continued to work on new material and developed her son Marcelo Gilberto's arranging skills, resulting in more diverse and polished music.
Despite her success, Astrud continued to experience stage fright, which led her to attend acting classes at the Stella Adler School of Acting. While she remained shy, she learned to manage her fear and released the critically acclaimed album "Astrud Gilberto Plus The James Last Orchestra" in 1987.
In the 1990s, Astrud Gilberto established her own production company, Gregmar Productions, Inc., with her sons Marcelo Gilberto and Gregory Lasorsa. She continued to tour extensively and received the Latin Jazz USA Award for Lifetime Achievement in 1992. Astrud also collaborated with other artists, recording songs with George Michael and French pop star Ettienne Daho.
In recent years, Astrud Gilberto has focused more on songwriting, with 60% of her live performances consisting of her own compositions. She released her latest album, "Jungle," in 2002 and was inducted into the International Latin Music Hall of Fame in 2002.
Throughout her career, Astrud Gilberto's beautiful and lyrical music has captivated audiences worldwide, making her one of the most influential figures in Brazilian and American music.
