The Brazilian singer, guitarist and songwriter, who is considered one of the fathers of the Bossa Nova movement, has died in Rio de Janeiro at the age of 88.

Joao Gilberto co-wrote song “The Girl From Ipanima” which features his wife Astrud on vocals.

Gilberto’s son says his father had been battling health issues though no official cause of death was released.

Bossa Nova, a fusion of samba and jazz emerged in the late 1950 and gained a worldwide following in the 1960s.

Over his career Gilberto worked with the likes of Stan Getz in the U-S and won two of the six Grammy’s he was nominated for.