Tom Jobim: The Maestro of Bossa Nova
Image Courtesy: Google Doodle
Tom Jobim (25 January 1927 – 8 December 1994) was a Brazilian composer, pianist, guitarist, songwriter, arranger, and singer. Considered one of the great exponents of Brazilian music.
Life and Career
He was born on 25 January 1927 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He is considered one of the most important figures in the development of the Bossa Nova genre, which emerged in Brazil in the late 1950s. Jobim began playing piano at a young age and later studied music at the National Institute of Music in Rio de Janeiro. He began his career as a professional musician in the 1940s and 1950s, performing in nightclubs and on radio and television shows. He also worked as an arranger and conductor for other musicians.
In the late 1950s, Jobim began to collaborate with lyricist and poet Vinicius de Moraes, and together they helped to develop the Bossa Nova genre, which blended elements of traditional Brazilian music with jazz and other international influences. Jobim’s compositions, such as “The Girl from Ipanema” and “Desafinado” became hits and helped to popularize Bossa Nova in Brazil and internationally.
Throughout his career, Jobim recorded many albums, composed for films and television, wrote music for theater and ballets, and collaborated with many other musicians, including Frank Sinatra, Elis Regina and João Gilberto. Jobim’s music continues to be celebrated and revered as a defining example of Brazilian popular music, and his influence can be heard in many other genres of music to this day. Jobim complained to his doctor, Roberto Hugo Costa Lima, of urinary problems. On 8 December 1994, while recovering from surgery, he had a cardiac arrest caused by a pulmonary embolism, and two hours later, another cardiac arrest, from which he died. He passed away, but his music is still alive in the hearts of many people.
Award and Legacy
Tom Jobim received numerous awards and accolades throughout his career, recognizing his contributions to Brazilian music and culture. Some of his awards and achievements include:
- In 1965, Jobim won the Grammy Award for Best Album of Original Score Written for a Motion Picture or Television Special for his work on the film “Black Orpheus.”
- In 1984, he was awarded the Latin Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award for his outstanding contributions to Latin music.
- In 1986, he was awarded the Order of Cultural Merit by the Brazilian government, which is the highest cultural award in Brazil.
- In 1991, he was inducted into the International Latin Music Hall of Fame.
- In 1994, he received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.
His legacy is considered very significant in the Brazilian music scene and beyond. He is considered one of the most important and innovative figures in the development of the Bossa Nova genre. Many of his songs have become classics of Brazilian popular music, and his style and themes continue to be influential on a new generation of musicians and artists. His compositions have been covered by many artists and are considered among the most popular and recognizable in the world. His work helped to popularize Brazilian music and culture on an international level and has played a major role in shaping the perception of Brazil as a source of musical inspiration.
Jobim’s music is considered timeless and still continues to be enjoyed by music lovers of all ages and backgrounds around the world. In 2015, a crater on the planet Mercury was named in his honor by the International Astronomical Union. On 25 January 2011, Google Doodle celebrated Tom Jobim’s Birthday.
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