Soka Performing Arts Center Presents Sergio Mendes: The 60th Anniversary of Bossa Nova
Soka Performing Arts Center presents Sergio Mendes: The 60th Anniversary of Bossa Nova on Saturday, September 14, 2019, at 8 p.m. A legend of Brazilian music and one of the prime architects of the bossa nova revolution of the 1960s, pianist, composer, and triple Grammy Award-winner Mendes returns to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the intoxicating mix of jazz and Brazilian pop he helped define.
Mendes first made an impact in collaboration with Antônio Carlos Jobim and Cannonball Adderley, and came to international stardom with his iconic band Brasil ’66. “The man who put go-go boots on Brazilian music and brought it to the world” (Billboard), Mendes jettisoned thoughts of a classical career when the distinctive jazz-meets-samba fusion called bossa nova began to evolve in the clubs of Rio in the late 50s.
One of the most internationally successful Brazilian artists of all time, Mendes has recorded more than 35 albums, many of which went gold or platinum.
In 2012 Mendes received his first Oscar nomination in the music category for “Real In Rio” from the animated, 3-D feature film Rio. In addition to being the Executive Music Producer for the blockbuster film, he also contributed five songs to the movie. The soundtrack, Rio: Music from the Motion Picture, featured re-recorded versions of his hits “Mas Que Nada” and “Valsa Carioca.” Mendes, once again, was responsible for bringing the distinctive rhythms of Brazil to a global audience. Mendes again provided the music for the sequel, Rio 2.
Mendes started his career with 1961’s Dance Moderno and the groups Bossa Rio and the Sergio Mendes Trio. From the mid-1960s to the late ’70s, Mendes established his legendary status by taking numerous albums and singles to the top of the charts. But it was Sergio Mendes and Brasil ’66 which sparked global stardom. Performing “The Look of Love” at the 1968 Oscars, their version went top 10, quickly followed by the hits “The Fool on the Hill” and “Scarborough Fair.”
Enjoying immense popularity, Mendes added soul and funk to his jazz and pop, but always with a Brazilian rhythm. His earlier single, “Mas Que Nada,” marked the first time that a song sung entirely in Portuguese hit Billboard’s Pop chart in the US. Mendes’ signature mix of bossa nova/samba and his distinctive pop instrumentation features melodies with distinct sophistication and alluring sexiness that ultimately came to define Brazilian music for many music enthusiasts around the world.
In the ’80s, he scored with the No. 1 Adult Contemporary and pop top-10 hit “Never Gonna Let You Go.” And in 1992 Mendes was awarded his first Grammy in the category of Best World Music for his album Brasileiro. Since then, Mendes has gone on to be honored with two Latin Grammys for Best Brazilian Record, Timeless (2006) and Bom Tempo (2010), which was also nominated for a 2010 Grammy.
Mendes’ innovation and versatility has enabled him to collaborate with a wide a range of artists. In 2006, his Timeless CD was a collaboration with contemporary pop, rock, urban and hip-hop artists, including Justin Timberlake, John Legend, and Black Eyed Peas—with a re-recording of his early gem “Mas Que Nada” alongside Gracinha Leporace, Mendes’ wife. 2008’s Encanto featured neo-soulster Ledisi and Spanish-language favorite Juanes.
In 2011, Mendes released his 39th album, Celebration: A Musical Journey, which represented his 50 years as a recording artist and included classics from his career as well as new recordings with Ivete Sangalo and Siedah Garrett, among them a remake of “The Fool on the Hill.” He also performed the classic at the 2011 MusiCares Gala Honoring Sir Paul McCartney.
Mendes’ iconic album: Herb Alpert Presents Sergio Mendes & Brasil ’66 was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame, joining Bruce Springsteen’s Born In The U.S.A., Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s “I Have A Dream” speech, the Rolling Stones’ Exile On Main St., and others in the 2012 class of historically significant recordings.
2014 saw the release of his album Magic, a collection of new songs, recorded with a host of friends and special guests including John Legend, Will.I.Am, Carlinhos Brown, and more. Magic also featured the 2014 World Cup hit single “One Nation.”
Mendes continues to tour worldwide.