Astrud Gilberto: Pre-'Getz/Gilberto'

The Brazilian vocalist was singing bossa nova in English four years earlier than the 1964 album

For years, American bossa nova fans have come to believe that Astrud Gilberto was nudged into A&R Studio to sing two songs during the famed Getz/Gilberto recording session on March 18 and 19, 1963. It has long been assumed that her tentative, girlish singing voice on the album’s The Girl From Ipanema and Corcovado (Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars) was tapped simply because she could sing Brazilian songs in English. [Photo above of João and Astrud Gilberto in 1959]