Antônio Carlos Jobim

Who is Antônio Carlos Jobim?

Antônio Carlos Jobim, affectionately known as Tom Jobim, was born in Rio de Janeiro and became the central figure in the creation of bossa nova, the sophisticated fusion of samba and jazz that transformed popular music in the late 1950s and 1960s. A gifted pianist and guitarist, he composed melodies of great harmonic subtlety, frequently in partnership with poet and lyricist Vinícius de Moraes and singer-guitarist João Gilberto. His songs, including 'Garota de Ipanema' (The Girl from Ipanema), 'Desafinado', 'Corcovado' and 'Águas de Março', became global standards recorded by countless artists worldwide. The landmark 1963 album Getz/Gilberto, featuring his compositions with saxophonist Stan Getz, brought bossa nova to international audiences and won the Grammy Award for Album of the Year. Jobim's work blended lyrical evocations of Rio, nature and longing with elegant, jazz-influenced harmony, shaping the sound of Brazilian music for generations. He remained a prolific composer and performer until his death in 1994.

Sources: Getz/Gilberto (album, 1963), Grammy Award for Album of the Year · Ruy Castro, 'Chega de Saudade: A História e as Histórias da Bossa Nova' (1990) · Grammy Awards / Recording Academy official records