Born on 10 June: Joao Gilberto, the uncontested father of Brazilian Bossa Nova

He was born in 1931 in Juazeiro, in the state of Bahia, and can undoubtedly be considered one of the most influential musicians in Brazilian music.

Regarded as the father of bossa nova, he revolutionised popular music in the 1950s by blending traditional samba with jazz influences. He also performed his compositions with a soft, almost languorous voice, often accompanying himself with just his acoustic guitar. It is often said that he whispers his poetry more than he sings it.

In 1958, he recorded "Chega de Saudade", a song composed by Antônio Carlos Jobim and Vinicius de Moraes, which officially marked the birth of bossa nova. This track transformed the Brazilian music scene.

"João is a genius. He reinvented the way of singing and playing the guitar in Brazil. Without him, there would have been no bossa nova," said Caetano Veloso, another giant of Brazilian music.

In 1964, he collaborated with American saxophonist Stan Getz on the album "Getz/Gilberto", which features the legendary "The Girl From Ipanema", sung by his wife Astrud Gilberto. The album undoubtedly helped to popularise bossa nova worldwide. It is estimated that there are at least 250 versions of this iconic song, performed by artists as diverse as Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Isabelle Antena, Diane Kroll, Amy Winehouse, Madonna (live), Smoke City, and even a few iconoclastic punk versions.

For Gilberto Gil, singer and former Brazilian Minister of Culture: "João Gilberto gave Brazilian music a modern soul. For us, he was a school, a lesson in silence and subtlety."

João Gilberto was a discreet, almost reclusive artist, but his impact on music is immense. He passed away in 2019 at the age of 88.

(MH with Stéphane Soupart - Photo: © Etienne Tordoir)

Photo: Joao Gilberto on stage at Bozar in Brussels (Belgium) in June 1989