What happened to Yma Sumac?
Peruvian singer Yma Sumac died Saturday at age 86. Sumac recorded an extraordinarily wide vocal range of more than four octaves; she could sing notes in the low baritone register as well as notes above the range of an ordinary soprano.
How many octaves could Yma Sumac sing?
Sumac became an international success based on her extreme vocal range. She had five octaves according to some reports, but other reports (and recordings) document four-and-a-half at the peak of her singing career. (A typical trained singer has a range of about three octaves.)…
| Yma Sumac | |
|---|---|
| Years active | 1942–1996 |
Was Yma Sumac a princess?
Sumac was the imperious, raven-haired Inca princess — “descendant of the last of the Incan kings,” according to lore — who maintained an extensive wardrobe stocked with sumptuous gowns, her crimson lipstick always applied to perfection. It was this Peruvian girl’s ultimate fantasy.
Why is Yma Sumac famous?
Yma Sumac was a noted Peruvian soprano. In the 1950s, she was one of the most famous proponents of exotica music and became an international success, based on the merits of her extreme vocal range, which was said to be “well over four octaves” and was sometimes claimed to span even five octaves at her peak.
What language does Yma Sumac sing in?
Quechua
The end result became Yma Sumac’s album, Voice of the Xtabay, which created a hybrid between South American, North American, and Caribbean genres, with Sumac singing in Quechua throughout the recording.
Where was Yma Sumac from?
Cajamarca, Peru
Yma Sumac/Place of birth
What was the range of Yma Sumac voice?
four octaves
Tuesday marks what would have been the 94th birthday of the Peruvian singer known as Yma Sumac, who was born Sept. 13, 1922, and became known worldwide for a vocal range that spanned at least four octaves.
When was Yma Sumac born?
September 10, 1922
Yma Sumac/Date of birth
When did Gopher Mambo by Yma Sumac come out?
It was released on 1954 by Capitol Records. It was entirely composed by Moisés Vivanco. Yma Sumac (September 13, 1922 – November 1, 2008) was a noted Peruvian singer. In the 1950s, she was one of the most famous proponents of exotica music. She became an international success based on her extreme vocal…
How many octaves does Yma Sumac have?
Sumac became an international success based on her extreme vocal range. She had six-and-a-half octaves according to some reports, but other reports (and recordings) document four-and-a-half at the peak of her singing career. (A typical trained singer has a range of about three octaves.)
When did Yma Sumac have her first child?
In 1949, Yma gave birth to their only child Carlos. She was discovered by Les Baxter and signed by Capitol Records in 1950, at which time her stage name became Yma Sumac. Her first album, Voice of the Xtabay, launched a period of fame that included performances at the Hollywood Bowl and Carnegie Hall.
Who was the Peruvian singer Yma Sumac?
It was entirely composed by Moisés Vivanco. Yma Sumac (September 13, 1922 – November 1, 2008) was a noted Peruvian singer. In the 1950s, she was one of the most famous proponents of exotica music.