The consensus seems to be that if Antonio Carlos Jobim created Bossa Nova,Joao Gilberto created Bossa Nova as we know it. Known for his flat and nasal- but always in tune - singing, Gilberto's cool, intimate style reverberatesto this day: listen to contemporary Bossa Nova singers like Celso Fonsecaand Cibelle, and you'll hear echoes of Gilberto. His story is no lessentrancing than his music: obsessed with music from an early age, he soughthis fortune as a singer and then fell into a ten-year depression that led toan itinerant, pot-smoking lifestyle. If he hadn't pulled out of the rut,Bossa Nova would be very different. But he did pull out, and decided to moveaway from that den of vice, Rio. Newly sober, Gilberto proceeded to develophis trademark style - reportedly in his sister's bathroom - and drew growingcrowds to clubs in Porto Alegre. It was just a matter of time before TomJobim took notice, and Gilberto was traveling to the United States for themost fruitful collaborations of his career - with American saxophonist StanGetz. Their signature collaboration "Getz/Gilberto" is a perennialbestseller, and Joao's wife Astrid sang the definitive version ofuber-classic "The Girl From Ipanema."
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