Sergio Mendes, the legendary pop music arranger and leader of the group Brasil ’66, is the featured artist on a newly released PBS documentary “In The Key of Joy.”
The documentary features Mendes along with guests including Quincy Jones, will.i.am, John Legend and Herb Alpert.The show also features Lani Hall who was the lead voice on those Brasil ’66 hits.
Mendes had a lot of success with his Brazilian influenced sound during the British Invasion in the 60’s with cover hits like “The Look of Love” and The Beatles hit “Fool On The Hill.”
Mendes talked about how Brazilian music really gained a foot hold in the U.S. in the 60’s:
"Brazilian music, it's rhythms and melodies. Bossa Nova, is the sound that our favorite composer was Mr. Antonio Carlos Jobim. And that kind of sound seduced so many American, North American, not only jazz musician, but great singers from all over the world. And that's when Stan Getz recorded 'Desafinado' and Charlie Byrd."
[Source: Classic Hits Today]