According to a message on his son’s Facebook page on July 6, 2019, João Gilberto, one of the key creators of the Brazilian musical genre bossa nova, passed away at his residence in Rio de Janeiro.
Some claim that the original bossa nova, or new beat, was created by Gilberto. The samba tradition of Brazil, which has African influences, served as the inspiration for this musical gift to the world from the middle of the 20th century. However, it was performed without the usual array of drums and rhythm instruments and at much lower volumes.
Gilberto is said to have created the bossa nova sound in 1955 while holed up in a bathroom at a hotel. He is known for his intimate and nuanced guitar playing and singing.
He was well known for being a recluse and spent the last years of his life working alone in his Rio apartment to resolve the many legal issues that had collected over the course of his illustrious career while still retaining the highest standing in his nation’s cultural history.
What was João Gilberto’s cause of death?
João Marcelo Gilberto reported that his 88-year-old father passed away after an illness which was not revealed.
