Singer of 'The Girl from Impanema' dies at 83

The singer of the iconic bossa nova song "The Girl From Ipanema," Brazillian singer and songwriter Astrud Gilberto, died Monday at age 83, according to family friend and fellow musician Paul Ricci.

Gilberto instantly rose to fame in 1964 after she sang the song in English at the request of her husband, Joao Gilberto, on the Getz/Gilberto album.

The song became a hit, and then a classic. The album won a Grammy Award in 1965 and sold 2 million copies.

Gilberto was Grammy-nominated for best vocal performance and best new artist. It launched her singing career.

She was also emulated by Sade and Suzanne Vega, among others.

In recent years, Gilberto retired from music and stopped giving interviews, but bristled at being called a "recluse." Her cause of death is not known, but she reportedly died in Philadelphia.