Sergio Mendes - RIP

[Michael Carnes]

Just learned that Sergio Mendes recently died at 83. I remember buying LPs of his Brazil '66 band and several over the years since. I give him credit for helping to bring Brazilian music to the US and other countries. I saw him live on two occasions. One was in the late 60s with Lani Hall as the lead singer. The second was at an after-party for a fundraising concert in Boston in the late 80s. At that time, Gracinha Leporace lead a 3-singer front. Partway through the evening, Al Jarreau hopped on stage to help out a little. Boy oh boy did that band kick.
I'm gonna have to pull out an album to give him another listen.