Marília Mendonça, a vocalist, bassist and composer for Brazilian rock band Bebidas, died in a plane crash that killed all but two of the 11 people aboard.
Mendonça, 44, died after a TBM-700 turboprop plane with nine people aboard crashed into a hillside in El Rodeo, in the city of Goiania, in Mato Grosso state. The band’s crew had been due to perform the band’s acclaimed final concert Wednesday evening at the city’s Arena of Porada.
“The last place in the world you expect to learn of a death such as this, is when you are about to begin the tour for our last concert to be in the home of Bebidas,” band member Bücke Schenker wrote in an e-mail message to the program Ticket Closer.
Brazilian media outlets reported that the plane was coming from Rio de Janeiro and was supposed to land at Mato Grosso.
“I am, of course, in shock and sadness. It has been terrible. I want to believe that this tragedy was not caused by an accident, but I don’t know,” Bebidas guitarist Rodrigo Alves said on Facebook.
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In a tweet, musician Shawn Mendes said, “At this time I am broken. It saddens me beyond belief to learn about the tragic passing of Bebidas singer Marília Mendonça and to hear about her death in a plane crash.”
The plane’s pilot and co-pilot and 11 other people died in the crash. Authorities are still investigating the cause of the crash.
Bebidas released its debut album in 1994 and launched the career of its lead singer, whose songs were known for their smooth and gentle lyrics.
The Goiana-based band’s latest album “Bebido” debuted at No. 8 on the Billboard Latin charts and No. 2 on Billboard’s Latin Albums chart.
Mendonça’s musical career began in Brazil with a solo album and then moved to Brazil and the United States, where she met Alves, Schenker and others, some of whom became members of Bebidas.
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