Sérgio Mendes

Sérgio Mendes – 2012 MusiCares Person of the Year Gala Honoring Paul McCartney – Arrivals – Los Angeles Convention Center – Los Angeles, CA, USA – Keywords: – Orientation: Portrait Face Count: 1 – False – Photo Credit: Andrew Evans / PR Photos

Birth Name: Sérgio Santos Mendes

Date of Birth: 11 February, 1941

Place of Birth: Niterói, Distrito Federal, Brazil

Date of Death: September 5, 2024

Place of Death: Los Angeles, California, U.S.

Ethnicity: Brazilian [Portuguese, African, possibly other]

Sérgio Mendes was a Brazilian musician. Known for bossa nova music, often infused with funk, he mostly lived and worked in the U.S. He was a member of band Brasil ’66. His songs include “Mas que Nada,” later re-recorded with the Black Eyed Peas. He co-wrote the song “Real in Rio.” He was also known as Santos Sergio.

Sérgio was born and raised in Niterói. His father was a physician. He moved to the U.S. in 1964. Sérgio was married to singer Gracinha Leporace, until his death, with whom he has two children. Sérgio and Gracinha performed together.

Sérgio had said:

My grandfather José Augusto Mendes, my father’s father, was a black man. On my mother’s side they were Portuguese, so it’s classic. Portuguese and black.