A roundup of iconic bossa nova artists and singers
Bossa nova, one of the quintessential genres of Brazilian music, enjoys enduring popularity not only in its home country but also in the United States, across Europe, and here in Japan.
Even if you’re not particularly knowledgeable about music, you might be able to picture it as the stylish sound you hear playing in cafés.
That said, bossa nova isn’t merely café music—its profound allure was forged by great artists and singers.
For those interested in bossa nova, we’ll introduce a selection of its most representative artists and vocalists all at once.
Be sure to check them out!
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Summary of Representative Bossa Nova Artists and Singers (1–10)
Mas Que NadaSergio Mendes
Sérgio Mendes is a world-renowned Brazilian musician.
With a style that blends bossa nova, jazz, and funk, he has spent more than half a century bringing Brazilian music to a global audience.
He achieved major success with his band Brasil ’66, formed in the 1960s, sparking an international boom by fusing the rhythms and melodies of bossa nova with American pop music.
Signature songs like “Mas Que Nada” and “The Look of Love” are timeless classics loved by generations.
His talent has been widely acclaimed, earning him three Grammy Awards and an Academy Award nomination.
Mendes has also drawn attention through collaborations with jazz greats and contemporary artists such as the Black Eyed Peas.
While honoring Brazilian tradition, he continues to innovate—clear proof of a truly great musician.
O BarquinhoMaysa
Maysa is a jazz and R&B singer, composer, and producer from Baltimore, Maryland, in the United States.
She joined the London band Incognito in the early 1990s and made her solo debut in 1995.
As a solo artist, she has built a dazzling career, with songs like “A Woman in Love” and “Metamorphosis” staying high on the Billboard charts for extended periods.
Maysa has also collaborated with an impressive roster of artists, including Gerald Veasley and Rick Braun.
She continues to captivate many fans with her broad musical range, not just smooth jazz.
She’s definitely an artist that fans of Brazilian music should check out!
Que Pena (Ele Já Não Gosta Mais De Mim)Gal Costa
Gal Costa is widely recognized as a legendary Brazilian singer.
She worked across a wide range of genres—including Latin, International, and Pop/Rock—and embraced diverse musical styles such as bossa nova, MPB, Tropicália, psychedelic/garage, Brazilian traditions, and samba.
She began her music career in 1965 and, in 1967, released the debut album Domingo with Caetano Veloso.
In 1968, she joined the Tropicália movement and performed numerous songs by renowned songwriters like Gilberto Gil.
Her track Festa Do Interior, included on the 1982 album Fantasia, became a major hit.
A gifted vocalist who sings in Portuguese, Spanish, and English, she is highly recommended for anyone seeking to experience the essence of Brazilian music.
Summary of representative bossa nova artists and singers (11–20)
RioRoberto Menescal
Roberto Menescal, a towering figure of bossa nova active since its earliest days, hails from Vitória, Brazil.
A distinguished musician with talents spanning musician, composer, arranger, and producer, he began working in the late 1950s alongside Tom Jobim and Carlos Lyra as a pioneer of bossa nova, creating numerous classics such as O Barquinho, known for its sea-themed melodies.
He took part in recordings by many artists including Elis Regina and Nara Leão, and contributed arrangements, helping drive the evolution of bossa nova and MPB and leading the Brazilian music scene.
Beloved across generations for his gentle, sophisticated musicality, Menescal also shines on guitar and vocals and remains active at the forefront today.
He is a master indispensable to understanding the history of bossa nova.
CorcovadoAstrud Gilberto
Astrud Gilberto, an international star of bossa nova who shot to fame with “The Girl from Ipanema.” Born in Brazil, Gilberto was active across a wide range of genres—including bossa nova, Brazilian jazz, and Brazilian pop—and helped lead the music scene from the 1960s through the 2020s.
She achieved worldwide breakthrough with “The Girl from Ipanema,” included on the 1964 album Getz/Gilberto with Stan Getz, and won a Grammy for the same work.
She went on to receive numerous honors, including a Lifetime Achievement Award from Latin Jazz USA in 1992, induction into the International Latin Music Hall of Fame in 2002, and the Latin Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2008.
Her collaborations with her son Marcelo and with Gregory Lasorsa also drew attention, and her ongoing performances of bossa nova classics have been beloved by a wide range of listeners.
Rapaz de BemJohnny Alf
Johnny Alf, a pioneer of bossa nova often referred to as the “Father of Bossa Nova.” Hailing from Vila Isabel in Rio de Janeiro, Alf began playing piano at the age of nine and launched his professional career in 1952.
He developed a distinctive musical style influenced by American jazz, and his 1955 album Rapaz de Bem later came to be regarded as a bossa nova classic.
Celebrated by his contemporaries as an innovator who introduced new harmonies to Brazilian music, Alf remained active and prolific until his passing in 2010.
If you’re interested in bossa nova, be sure to check him out!
Chega De SaudadeNara Leão
Nara Leão, the legendary muse who supported the birth and growth of bossa nova from the earliest days of Brazilian music and helped lead the movement.
She began her professional career in the early 1960s, deepened friendships with talented contemporaries such as Roberto Menescal, Carlos Lyra, João Gilberto, Vinicius de Moraes, and Antônio Carlos Jobim, and together they forged the bossa nova revolution.
Her ambitious works—laden with political messages under Brazil’s military dictatorship—include her 1964 debut album Nara and the following year’s Opinião de Nara and O Canto Livre de Nara, and are regarded as sources for MPB (Música Popular Brasileira) and Tropicália.
With her quirky, cute looks and a lyrical, troubadour-like voice as her weapons, Nara was both a pioneer who opened up the possibilities of the bossa nova genre and an iconic figure of her era.
Her body of work is a treasure that new fans of Brazilian music should hear.