Yma Sumac
Biography
**Yma Sumac**
In the annals of 20th century music, few figures are as enigmatic, controversial, and downright extraordinary as Yma Sumac, the Peruvian songbird whose four-and-a-half octave vocal range defied both logic and musical convention. Born Zoila Augusta Emperatriz Chávarri del Castillo in 1922 in the remote Andean village of Ichocán, Peru, she would later claim royal Incan lineage – though like much of her mythology, the truth remains deliciously murky.
What's undeniable is that Sumac possessed one of the most remarkable voices in recorded history. Her vocal gymnastics could leap from guttural, almost animalistic growls to crystalline coloratura soprano notes that seemed to emanate from another dimension entirely. When she burst onto the American scene in the early 1950s, audiences were left slack-jawed, unsure whether they were witnessing authentic Peruvian folk tradition or the most elaborate musical hoax ever perpetrated.
The controversy began almost immediately. Skeptics claimed "Yma Sumac" was simply "Amy Camus" spelled backwards, suggesting she was actually a Brooklyn housewife named Amy Camus who'd concocted an exotic persona. The rumors persisted despite documentation of her Peruvian birth, adding an air of mystery that only enhanced her appeal during the height of America's fascination with the exotic.
Sumac's recording career took flight with Capitol Records, where producer Les Baxter crafted a sound that married her otherworldly vocals with lush orchestrations that epitomized the "exotica" craze. Her 1950 debut album "Voice of the Xtabay" became a sensation, with tracks like "Taita Inty" and "Xtabay" showcasing her ability to channel what seemed like the very spirit of the Andes. The album's success spawned a series of equally captivating releases including "Legend of the Sun Virgin" (1952) and "Mambo!" (1954), each pushing the boundaries of what popular music could accommodate.
Her live performances were theatrical spectacles that predated the concept of world music by decades. Draped in elaborate costumes that evoked pre-Columbian royalty, Sumac would entrance audiences with vocalizations that ranged from bird calls to what can only be described as musical séances. She appeared on major television variety shows, bringing her mystical presence to living rooms across America and Europe.
The 1950s represented Sumac's commercial peak, but her influence extended far beyond the charts. She appeared in films including "Secret of the Incas" (1954) alongside Charlton Heston, though Hollywood never quite knew what to do with such an unclassifiable talent. Her music found its way into the emerging bachelor pad culture, where her exotic stylings provided the perfect soundtrack for cocktail parties and late-night sophistication.
As musical tastes shifted in the 1960s, Sumac's star waned commercially, though she never stopped performing. She attempted various reinventions, including a brief flirtation with rock music that produced the fascinatingly bizarre album "Miracles" (1971). Throughout the decades, she maintained a devoted cult following who recognized her as a singular artistic force.
The critical reevaluation of Sumac's work began in earnest during the 1990s, as musicians and scholars recognized her as a pioneer who had fearlessly blended indigenous South American musical traditions with Western popular music. Artists from Björk to Diamanda Galás have cited her influence, and her recordings have been sampled by hip-hop producers who appreciate her avant-garde sensibilities.
Sumac continued performing well into her seventies, her voice retaining much of its supernatural power. She passed away in 2008 at age 86, leaving behind a legacy that defies easy categorization. Was she a legitimate keeper of ancient Incan musical traditions, a brilliant performance artist, or simply a woman with an impossible voice who created her own mythology? Perhaps the answer is all of the above.
Today, Yma Sumac stands as a testament to music's power to transcend cultural boundaries and rational explanation. In an era of manufactured pop stars and focus-grouped authenticity, her uncompromising artistic vision seems more relevant than ever. She remains the undisputed queen of exotica, a genre she essentially created and perfected, proving that sometimes the most powerful music comes from the most
