Singer, composer, multi-instrumentalist, and arranger João Donato died aged 88 in Rio de Janeiro on Monday (Jul. 17). The artist had been hospitalized last week because of a lung infection. João Donato’s Instagram page reported his death. “The songwriters’ heaven woke up happier this morning, as João Donato joined them to play his beautiful melodies. His joy as well as his chords will now last forever across the universe.”
João Donato is a massively influential figure in the history and development of bossa nova and Brazilian jazz. The pianist, composer, and arranger has recorded more than three dozen albums under his own name and has thousands of credits. He has worked with virtually every Brazilian master, both male and female, for generations, including including João Gilberto, Sergio Mendes, Tito Puente, Gilberto Gil, Gal Costa and countless others.
Donato was born on August 17, 1934, in Rio Branco, capital of the northern state of Acre, and moved with his family to Rio de Janeiro 11 years later. Music came early to him. Encouraged by his father, a mandolin player, and his mother, a singer, he could already play the accordion at age five.
In Rio de Janeiro, after participating in musical parties in schools in Tijuca, Northern Rio, he began to join jam sessions at the home of singer Dick Farney and at the Sinatra Farney Fã Club at the age of 15.
The first time he appeared on record was as a member of the band of flutist Altamiro Carrilho. It was also around this time he got in contact with other major names, like Lúcio Alves, and became known by artists outside Brazil, including Chet Baker.
In the 50s, he moved to the US, where he explored and combined jazz and Latin music.
In 2016, his album Donato Elétrico was nominated for a Latin Grammy for Best Instrumental. The record was also elected as the 11th best Brazilian album of the year by Rolling Stone Brasil magazine.
He released an album last year and was still playing shows earlier this year.
“I’m not bossa nova, I’m not samba, I’m not jazz, I’m not rumba, I’m not forro. In truth, I’m all of that at the same time,” Donato told the Rio newspaper O Globo in a 2014 interview
Source: Agência Brasil and AllMusic