Nelson Ned Dies: Brazilian Balladist Dead At 66 From Pneumonia Complications

Sad news in the music world. Nelson Ned d’Ávila Pinto, mostly known as Nelson Ned, passed away today, Sunday, January 05, in Sao Paulo, after being hospitalized for a severe case of pneumonia. His death was confirmed by the staff at the Cotia Regional Hospital, where he was admitted. The Sao Paulo state Health Secretariat's press office said he died of "clinical complications" of pneumonia and bladder problems. "The Little Giant of Song," name he received because he was just 3 feet, 6 inches tall, became a sensation in the 1960’s, when he emerged as one of Brazil’s most famous romantic performers.

He became so widely known that he recorded several albums in Spanish, positioning him as an idol in Argentina, Mexico, Colombia and many other nations. Ned sold 45 million albums worldwide, becoming the first Latino artist to sell more than 1 million albums in the U.S. market, where he performed on three occasions in Carnegie Hall in New York, alongside Julio Iglesias and Tony Bennett. After living a life of excess, Ned converted to evangelical Protestantism in the 1990’s. From that moment on, he made a career performing religious music in Portuguese and Spanish.

Although his faith was renewed, his health didn’t run with the same luck. All those years of indulging in the life of a true rock star took a toll on him, causing the singer to experience several health issues throughout his life, but the situation worsened in 2003, year when he suffered a stroke that left him blind in his right eye and causing him to move around in a wheelchair. He also suffered from diabetes, high blood pressure and an early phase of Alzheimer’s.

Nevertheless, his music has always spoken for him. Nelson Ned leaves a legacy. Timeless classics that remain public knowledge and that have transcended generations and will continue to do so for many, many years. Some of Nelson’s best-known ballads in Portuguese are: "Domingo à Tarde", "Tudo Passará", "Eu Tambem Sou Sentimental", "Deus Abençoe as Crianças do Brasil", "Medo" and "Feliz Aniversario." His songs and his achievements will always be remembered. May he rest in peace.