Joao Gilberto (1931-2019)

Yesterday, the world lost a true musical legend with the passing of the great Brazilian guitarist Joao Gilberto at the age of 88. With his wispy vocals, gentle strumming and harmonic expertise, Gilberto took the tradition of Brazil's samba to a place of tranquility it had never been to before and in doing so, he helped to create a new approach to music, something very few musicians have ever truly accomplished. Together with the brilliant composer Antonio Carlos Jobim, Gilberto established the eminence of what came to be called bossa nova all over the world. He also had a daughter Bebel, who became an important forward looking musician in her own right. Although he lived reclusively during the later part of his life, Gilberto remained both respected and revered for his important contributions to the world of music.