Yma Sumac

Zoila Emperatriz Chávarri Castillo (September 13, 1922 – November 1, 2008), known as Yma Sumac, was a Peruvian-born American singer, actress, model, musician, composer, dancer and producer. She won a Guinness World Record for the Greatest Range of Musical Value in 1956. She has also been called Queen of Exotica. She has been called a "pioneer of world music". 

Early life
Sumac was born Zoila Emperatriz Chávarri Castillo on September 13, 1922 in Callao, Peru. She was raised in Cajamarca. In 1934, she traveled to live in Lima with her relatives.

She married Moisés Vivanco on June 6, 1942. In 1946, Sumac and Vivanco moved to New York City. In 1949, Yma gave birth to their only child, Carlos.Yma Sumac [exotica vocalist]: Musician Snapshots Volume 3 of The Music You Should Hear Series by Stone Blue Editors, SBE Media, 2015.

Career
Sumac began performing in 1938. She took the stage name Yma Sumac which means "how beautiful" in Quechua.

Her first album, Voice of the Xtabay (1950), reached number one in the Billboard 200, selling a million copies in the United States, and its single, "Virgin of the Sun God (Taita Inty)", was a big seller in the United Kingdom, She became an international success in the 1950s. Her other albums like Legend of the Sun Virgin (1952), Fuego del Ande (1959) and Mambo! (1955), were also popular.

In 1951, Sumac became the first Latin American and Peruvian female singer to appear on Broadway. She also created her own technical singing, named "double voice". She also performed in Carnegie Hall and Lewisohn Stadium. 

In 1960 she became the first Latin American woman to get a phonograph record star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Afterwards she toured the Soviet Union, selling more than 20 million tickets. 

Sumac had more than 3,000 concerts "covering the entire globe", breaking any records by a performer. She was also called a fashion icon during her career. She sold over 40 million records, making her the best-selling Peruvian singer in history.

Death
In February 2008, Sumac was diagnosed with colon cancer. She died from the disease on November 1, 2008 in Los Angeles, California at the age of 86.

Awards and honors
YearCeremony/AwardCategory/NotesResult 1993 Diamond Halo Contributions to entertainment 1968 Golden Disc of Hollywood Award Best Latin American Singer  1960 Guinness World Records Greatest Range 1960 Hollywood Walk of Fame Walk of Stars 1997 Life Achievement Award 2006Order of the Sun of Peru Presented by Republic of Peru

References

Other websites


 Yma Sumac, August 8, 1950. Malibu, Hollywood Bowl, Recording Studio, Residence (90 photos), by Peter Stackpole for LIFE magazine



Category:1922 births
Category:2008 deaths
Category:Deaths from colorectal cancer
Category:Cancer deaths in Los Angeles
Category:Naturalized citizens of the United States
Category:Peruvian movie actors
Category:Peruvian singers
Category:Peruvian musicians
Category:Peruvian composers
Category:American movie actors
Category:Singer-songwriters from New York City
Category:Singer-songwriters from Los Angeles
Category:Musicians from New York City
Category:Musicians from Los Angeles
Category:Actors from New York City
Category:Actors from Los Angeles
Category:Models from New York City
Category:Models from Los Angeles
Category:American dancers
Category:American rock singers
Category:American jazz composers
Category:American jazz singers
Category:Writers from Lima
Category:Actors from Lima