The debut album Voice of the Xtabay reached number one on the Billboard 200 in 1950, selling one million copies across the United States. Through this record, Yma Sumac introduced an international audience to her unique vocal technique, blending Incan folk traditions with Hollywood-style arrangements that helped define the exotica genre throughout the decade.
Early Life and Vocal Development
Born Zoila Emperatriz Chávarri Castillo on September 13, 1922, in Callao, Peru, she was the youngest of six children. Her childhood was spent in Cajamarca, where she developed her vocal range by imitating bird calls and natural sounds. In 1934, she moved to Lima for education, and by 1938, she performed publicly with the Compañía Peruana de Arte led by Moisés Vivanco. She recorded 18 Peruvian folk songs in Buenos Aires by 1943.
Rise to International Prominence
After moving to the United States in 1946, she performed as part of the Inka Taqui Trio. She signed with Capitol Records in 1950 under the name Yma Sumac. Her career flourished with successful albums including Mambo! and Fuego del Ande. She was the first Peruvian and Latin American artist to debut on Broadway in 1951, appearing in the musical Flahooley. Throughout the 1950s, she toured extensively across Europe, Africa, and the Far East.
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Known for her 'double voice' or 'triple coloratura' technique, she was credited with a four-and-a-half to five-octave vocal range. Her live performances included engagements at Carnegie Hall, the Hollywood Bowl, and the Roxy Theatre. Between 1960 and 1965, she completed a world tour, performing in 40 cities across the Soviet Union. Variety reported in 1974 that she had performed over 3,000 concerts during her career.
Final Years
Sumac became a United States citizen on July 22, 1955, while maintaining her Peruvian heritage. In 2006, she received the Order of the Sun of Peru. She died in Los Angeles on November 1, 2008, and is buried at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery. Her legacy persists through the sale of over 40 million records, establishing her as the highest-selling Peruvian singer in history.
Fast facts
- Born: September 13, 1922, Callao, Peru
- Died: November 1, 2008, Los Angeles
- United States citizen since: July 22, 1955
- Hollywood Walk of Fame star: 1960
- Languages spoken: Spanish, English, Quechua
- Best-selling album debut: Voice of the Xtabay (1950)
- Total records sold: Over 40 million
- Final resting place: Hollywood Forever Cemetery
Questions readers ask
What was Yma Sumac's vocal range?
While some reports claimed five octaves, recordings and critical assessments from the period confirm a range of four-and-a-half octaves.
Was she involved in acting?
Yes, she appeared in films such as Secret of the Incas (1954) and Omar Khayyam (1957), and performed on Broadway in the 1951 musical Flahooley.
When did she receive the Order of the Sun of Peru?
She was awarded the Order of the Sun of Peru in 2006.
Achievements
- Order of the Sun of Peru — 2006
- Instruments: voice
- Genres: music of Peru, folk music and opera
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