Astrud Gilberto, whose interpretation of The Girl from Ipanema became popular, has died aged 83.

Paul Ricci, who collaborated with Gilberto, confirmed the news on social media. The news of her death had originally been broken by Gilberto’s son Marcelo. “She was an important part of ALL that is Brazilian music in the world and she changed many lives with her energy,” he added.

Also Read | Was Anna Shay gay? Bling Empire star’s sexuality was debated by fans before her death

Who was Astrud Gilberto?

Astrud Gilberto was born in 1940 in Bahia, Brazil, and raised in Rio de Janeiro.

Astrud married musician João Gilberto in 1959. Astrud and her husband traveled to New York in 1963 in order for him to record with jazz artist Stan Getz and Brazilian bossa nova star Antônio Carlos Jobim.

At the time, the producer felt that the song should also have an English-language rendition in order to help The Girl from Ipanema reach a US audience. Astrud, who had no previous recording experience, was the only English-speaking person among them. So she was roped in to sing a duet with her husband on the original song. She wasn’t even credited on the recording.

Also Read | 5 Facts to know about Anna Shay, Bling Empire star, after her death at 62

She ended up receiving only a small session musician’s fee and was cut out of the royalties.

The reason for the success of The Girl from Ipanema was Astrud’s “beguiling, whispery voice.” It also earned her a Grammy for Song of the Year and a nomination for Best Vocal Performance by a female

 Astrud and João divorced in the mid-1960s.

The 1964 edited version of The Girl from Ipanema was released, omitting the Portuguese lyrics sung by João. It established Astrud as a Bossa Nova singer. The released song sold over one million copies and was awarded a gold disc.

Astrud and João shared a son, João Marcelo Gilberto, who also played with his mother. She also had a son with Lasorsa, Gregory Lasorsa, from a second marriage who also played with his mother. Later she began a relationship with her husband’s musical collaborator, Getz. She immigrated to the US in 1963, and had been staying in the U.S. from that time on.