Person of the Week: Astrud Gilberto

Astrud Gilberto

Known as the “Queen of Bossa Nova,” for over forty years, Astrud Gilberto’s music has delighted fans of pop and jazz music. Her musical sound is infused with the flavor of her home country of Brazil. When most people think of Miss Gilberto, their initial thought was her first international hit, “The Girl from Ipanema.” With this light, soothing song, Gilberto solidified her permanent place in the pantheon of popular music greats.


With dozens of top-selling albums to her credit, Gilberto toured for many years. At a point in 1982, her own son, Marcelo, joined her band, working as a bassist and, later, as a co-producer on his mother’s albums. Not only as Gilberto collaborated with some of the biggest names in the music industry, she’s also influenced generations of musicians who continue to look to her work for inspiration.

In addition to her magical music, Gilberto also dedicates herself to a variety of causes. She has performed in benefits to raise money for AIDS research, and is a passionate supporter of animal rights.

For all of her many contributions, Astrud Gilberto is our “Person of the Week.” Enjoy these two clips. The first is her famous hit, “The Girl from Ipanema.” The other is a contemporary remix of her song, “The Gentle Rain,” which shows how deeply her influence on music continues. Pardon the obnoxious “Gossip Girl” logo. This was the only clip of this great song that I could find.