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Sergio Mendes, Getty Images/Kevin Winter
Sergio Mendes's work on the 2011 animated film "Rio" has earned the legendary musician an Oscar nomination for "Music (Original Song)" for his recording, "Real In Rio."
In an exclusive video interview with Yahoo! Music, Mendes discussed his special connection to the second largest city in Brazil on which the movie is based. "It felt great," he said. "Rio is my hometown and the director Carlos Saldanha was also born in Rio, so it was a familiar thing to me. To work on that type of scenery was so much joy for me to be a part of it because it's something that I grew up with--those sounds, those rhythms, the colors. So, it just like a wonderful ride and now to be nominated for an Oscar is like an even bigger honor and joy."
Mendes, who is also a three-time Grammy winner, also discussed working with will.i.am on the "Rio" soundtrack and said he is a fan of artists from different genres working together.
On Friday, Mendes will perform the Beatles' song "The Fool On The Hill" during the MusicCares Person of the Year tribute to Paul McCartney.
(Interview courtesy of Dial Global's "Backstage at the Grammys" brought to you by Turbo Tax and Mastercard.)