João Donato, a veteran composer and pianist from Brazil’s Amazon, died after a lengthy and glorious career earlier today. Read on to learn how did João Donato die, what happened to him, and what was the cause of his death in this obituary.
Donato helped lay the groundwork for bossa nova but had a dynamic career ranging across several genres. He was best known for his work in Jazz. Tributes have emerged following the death of a master of piano who was admired around the world.
Who was João Donato?
João Donato de Oliveira Neto was born on August 17, 1934, in the Amazonian state of Acre on Brazil’s western border. He grew up to be a jazz composer and bossa nova pianist. Donato was interested in music from a very young age.
He first started playing accordion at the Sinatra-Farney Fan Club at the age of just 15. He recorded for the first time with Altamiro Carrilho and then joined a band led by violinist Fafá Lemos. The group played in Brazillian nightclubs.
Donato’s first solo album was released in 1953. He led the boss nova band Os Namorados which is best known for playing “Tenderly.” He later became an arranger and pianist for the band Garotos da Lua. João Gilberto joined him in the band.
After this stint, Donato moved to São Paulo and played in the Luís César Orchestra and the band Os Copacabanas. He gave numerous hits throughout his career including “Minha Saudade,” “A Rã,” and “Caranguejo.”
How did João Donato die?
Brazilian jazz legend João Donato died on Monday, July 17, 2023, at the age of 88. He passed away at a hospital after suffering from a health issue for the past few days. He reportedly left the world surrounded by his family members.
The unfortunate news of João Donato’s death was announced through his official Instagram account with a heartfelt graphic with the following words:
“Today the heaven of composers, it dawned happier: João Donato went there to play his beautiful melodies. Now, your joy and your chords remain eternal throughout the universe.”
Several fans and friends of Mr. Donato paid respect to the deceased pianist in the comment section of the post.
What was the cause of João Donato’s death?
It’s revealed that João Donato died after suffering from pneumonia. It’s a pulmonary (respiratory) disease marked by significant lung infection and breathing problems. He was hospitalized for the same and was intubated.
Unfortunately, his body couldn’t deal with the problems anymore and he passed away. There were very low chances of recovery as Donato was already 88 years old. He is not among us now but his legacy will stay with us forever.
João Donato Obituary, Funeral, and Tributes
An obituary for João Donato is awaited at this time and will likely be unveiled during the funeral services. Until then, this post will continue to serve as Donato’s digital obituary. He was a wonderful man who helped lay the groundwork for boss nova.
The funeral of João Donato will be held at the Municipal Theater of Rio. We will keep you posted with the exact schedule when it’s released. A lot of high-profile names are expected to be a part of the ceremony.
Tributes have emerged for João Donato on social media and offline following his death. Brazillian president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva was among the first to pay respect to the late pianist. “Today we lost one of our greatest and most creative composers,” he wrote on Twitter.
Silva added: “João Donato saw music in everything. He innovated, he passed through samba, bossa nova, jazz, forro and in the mixture of rhythm built something unique. He kept creating and innovating until the end.”
“A sensitive and unique man, creator of his own style with a piano that was different than everything I had seen before. Sweet, precise and profound,” singer Marisa Monte wrote on Twitter. She partnered with Donato very recently.
Our deepest condolences go to his family, friends, and fans. May God let the departed soul of Donato let in peace. He would be playing his mesmerizing melodies in heaven now.
