Sergio Mendes’ cause of death has been revealed two months after the acclaimed Brazilian musician died aged 83.
Per a death certificate obtained by TMZ, Mendes died from acute hypoxemic respiratory failure – a condition where there is not enough oxygen in the body – on September 5.
Aspiration pneumonia – an infection of the lungs caused by inhaling saliva, food, liquid or foreign objects – is cited as an underlying cause.
The star also suffered from a chronic lung disease with his family adding he had been ‘struggling with long-term COVID.’
He died at Providence Cedars-Sinai Tarzana Medical Center with his remains cremated.
Sergio Mendes’ cause of death has been revealed two months after the acclaimed Brazilian musician died aged 83 – Seen in 2023
Per a death certificate obtained by TMZ , Mendes died from acute hypoxemic respiratory failure – a condition where there is not enough oxygen in the body – on September 5 – pictured 1979
Mendes was a world-famous Brazilian musician who collaborated with jazz greats such as Herb Alpert.
Sergio was known for bossa nova, a jazz-inflected derivative of samba, and worked with the famous musician Antônio Carlos Jobim.
Mendes also headed up the iconic musical group Brasil ’66.
He was Oscar-nominated for his song Real In Rio which he made with John Legend for the 2012 animated movie Rio.
And he won three Grammys over his 70 year career.
He worked with many mainstream artists such as The Black Eyed Peas, with whom he re-recorded in 2006 a version of his breakthrough hit Mas que Nada.
He also made music with Stevie Wonder who wrote Mendes’ hit The Real Thing.
And Sergio worked on a 007 song.
He helped singer Lani Hall as a producer of her vocals on the title song for the James Bond film Never Say Never Again in the 1980s.
Aspiration pneumonia – an infection of the lungs caused by inhaling saliva, food, liquid or foreign objects – is cited as an underlying cause; seen in 2020 in Los Angeles
The star got his start in the 1950s when he played nightclubs in his native Brazil but his biggest hits were made in the US. Seen with band mates in 1977
Mendes was married to Gracinha Leporace, who performed with him since the early 1970s.
The artist was born in 1941 in Niteroi, RJ, Brazil. He studied classic music at Curso Santa Cecilia and the Conservatory of Music in Niteroi.
His first inspiration was Dave Brubeck which inspired him to start a jazz club with pals.
The star got his start in the 1950s when he played nightclubs in his native Brazil but his biggest hits were made in the US.
The year 1962 was big for him.
In 1964, Sergio moved to California, with a group that he names Brasil 64. With this instrumental formation he makes two records—in 64 and 65, and does several personal appearances, in clubs, around the United States.
His first taste of mainstream fame came when he performed the Oscar-nominated The Look of Love during the Academy Awards in 1968.
His hit songs include The Fool on the Hill, Scarborough Fair and Never Gonna Let You Go. His big hit was the Grammy-winning Elektra album Brasileiro in 1992.
He was one of the most internationally successful Brazilian artists of all time.
Mendes has recorded more than 35 albums, many of which went gold or platinum. He’s a three-time Grammy Award winner, Oscar- nominated songwriter and the subject of a 2020 feature documentary.