Gracinha Leporace (The Sergio Mendes Band) 

Gracinha Leporace (The Sergio Mendes Band) For more than five decades, Gracinha Leporace  was far more than a vocalist in Sergio Mendes’ bands—she was his musical partner, collaborator, and eventually his wife. Born in Brazil, Leporace joined Mendes’ musical world after being discovered as a young singer at age 18 and officially became part of his group by 1970. Her warm voice became an essential part of the Sergio Mendes sound, helping carry forward the blend of Brazilian rhythms, jazz sophistication, and pop accessibility that made the band internationally famous. She and Mendes married in 1974 and remained together for fifty years, building both a family and a remarkable musical legacy.Today, Leporace continues that legacy with the Sergio Mendes Band, featuring many musicians who performed with Mendes during the final decade of his career. New Jersey audiences will have the opportunity to celebrate the music of Brasil ’66 and beyond when the group performs at Mayo Performing Arts Center on June 11 and at Bergen Performing Arts Center on June 14. These performances honor the 60th anniversary of Herb Alpert Presents Sergio Mendes & Brasil '66, one of the most influential crossover albums of the 1960s.https://www.sergiomendesmusic.com/