Contents
Yma Sumac
Becoming an international vocal sensation with an unusually wide range and the album Voice of the Xtabay.
Voice of the Xtabay · Mambo!
- Born
- 13 September 1922
- Birthplace
- Callao, Peru
- Died
- 1 November 2008
More people
Yma Sumac
Yma Sumac was a Peruvian-born singer whose theatrical recordings blended Andean references with the orchestral style marketed as exotica. Her voice moved between unusually low notes and birdlike high passages.
Early life
Peruvian childhood
Born Zoila Emperatriz Chávarri Castillo, she spent part of her childhood in Cajamarca before moving to Lima.
Early recordings
Performed with musician Moisés Vivanco and recorded Peruvian songs in Buenos Aires in 1943.
Career
- 1946
United States move
Moved to New York and performed with the Inka Taqui Trio.
- 1950
Capitol breakthrough
Voice of the Xtabay introduced her to a much wider international audience.
- 1960s onward
Tours and returns
Toured internationally, then returned to recording and occasional concerts in later decades.
Selected work
Voice of the Xtabay
An orchestral showcase for her unusual vocal range and dramatic delivery.
Mambo!
Brought her voice into lively mambo arrangements.
Miracles
A later album experimented with rock instrumentation.
Beyond work
Life between countries
Became a United States citizen in 1955 while retaining a strong association with Peru.
Peruvian recognition
Returned to Lima in 2006 to receive the Order of the Sun.
Sources & photo credit
Life, career and references ↗Mambo! release history ↗Photo: Foto Brosio. Public domain · Original image. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.
