Yma Sumac (September 13, 1922 – November 1, 2008) was the stage name of a P… Read Full Bio ↴Yma Sumac (September 13, 1922 – November 1, 2008) was the stage name of a Peruvian singer named Zoila Augusta Emperatriz Chavarri del Castillo. When still a child in rural Peru, she attracted notice for her extraordinary voice, and joined the Compañía Peruana de Arte in the early 1940s.
Yma Súmac was born in Callao, El Callao, Peru. Other dates mentioned in her various biographies range from 1921 to 1929. Some sources claim that she was not born in Ichocán, but in a nearby village or possibly in Lima, and that her family owned a ranch in Ichocán where she spent most of her early life. Stories published in the 1950s claimed that she was an Incan princess directly descended from Atahualpa. A story claiming that she was actually born Amy Camus (Yma Sumac backwards) in Brooklyn or Canada was fabricated while she was performing in New York City in the early 1950s. She adopted the stage name of Imma Sumack (also spelled Ymma Sumack and Ima Sumack) in South America before she went to the U.S. The stage name was based on her mother's name which was derived from Ima Shumaq, Quechua for "how beautiful!" although in interviews she claimed it meant "beautiful flower" or "beautiful girl".
Imma Sumack first appeared on radio in 1942, and married composer and bandleader Moisés Vivanco on June 6 the same year. She recorded at least 23 tracks of Peruvian folk songs in Argentina in 1943 . These early recordings for the Odeon label featured Moisés Vivanco's group, Compañía Peruana de Arte, a group of 46 Indian dancers singers and musicians. In 1946, Sumack and Vivanco moved to New York City, where they performed as the Inca Taky Trio: Sumack herself singing coloratura soprano, Vivanco on guitar and her cousin Cholita Rivero singing contralto and dancing. Sumack bore a son, Charles, in 1949, and was signed by Capitol Records in 1950, at which time her stage name became "Yma Sumac".
During the 1950s, Yma Sumac produced a series of legendary lounge music recordings featuring Hollywood-style versions of Incan and South American folk songs, working with the likes of Les Baxter and Billy May. In 1951, she popularized Jorge Bravo de Rueda's classic song Vírgenes del Sol. The combination of her extraordinary voice, exotic looks and stage personality made her a hit with American audiences. Sumac even appeared in a Broadway musical, Flahooley, in 1951, as a foreign princess who brings Aladdin's lamp to an American toy factory to have it repaired. The show's score was by Sammy Fain and E.Y. "Yip" Harburg, but Sumac's four numbers were the work of Vivanco. Capitol Records, Sumac's label, recorded the show. Flahooley closed quickly but the recording continues as a cult classic, in part because it also marked the Broadway debut of Barbara Cook. During the height of Sumac's popularity, she appeared in the films Secret of the Incas (1954) and Omar Khayyam (1957). She became a U.S. citizen July 22, 1955
In 1957, Sumac and Vivanco divorced, their dispute making news in Los Angeles.[10] They remarried that same year before divorcing again in 1965. Apparently due to financial difficulties, Yma Sumac and the original Inca Taky Trio went on a world tour in 1961, which lasted for five years. They performed in 40 cities in the Soviet Union, and afterwards all over Europe, Asia and Latin America. Their performance in Bucharest, Romania was recorded as the album Recital, her only 'live in concert' record. Yma Sumac spent the rest of the 1960s performing sporadically.
In 1971, she released a rock album, called Miracles, and returned to live in Peru. She performed in concert from time to time during the 1970s in Peru and later in New York. In the 1980s, she had a number of concerts both in the U.S. and abroad . She sang Ataypura during a March 19, 1987 appearance on Late Night with David Letterman, appearing alongside actor-comedians Jerry Seinfeld and Bill Murray.
In 1989, she sang once again at The Ballroom in New York. In March 1990, she played the role of Heidi in Stephen Sondheim's Follies, in Long Beach, California, her first attempt at serious theater since Flahooley in 1951. In 1992, Günther Czernetsky directed a documentary titled Yma Sumac - Hollywoods Inkaprinzessin (Yma Sumac - Hollywood's Inca princess). She also gave several concerts in the summer of 1996 two more in Montreal, Canada in July 1997 as part of the Montreal International Jazz Festival.
Sumac's profile rose again when the song Ataypura was featured in the Coen Brothers' film The Big Lebowski. Her song Bo Mambo appeared in a commercial for Kahlua liquor, and was sampled for the Hands Upsong by the Black Eyed Peas. The song Gopher Mambo was used in the films Ordinary Decent Criminal and Confessions of a Dangerous Mind. The songs Goomba Boomba and Malambo No. 1 appeared in Death to Smoochy.
On May 6, 2006, Sumac flew to Lima, where she was presented the Orden del Sol award by Peruvian President Alejandro Toledo, and the Jorge Basadre medal by the Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos.
Yma Sumac recorded an incredible vocal range of more than four octaves, from B2 to C♯7 (approximately 123 to 2270 Hz). She was able to sing notes in the low baritone register as well as notes above the range of an ordinary coloratura soprano. Both low and high extremes can be heard in the song Chuncho (The Forest Creatures) (1950)
Yma Sumac passed away at an assisted living facility in Los Angeles, California on November 1, 2008.
==Discography==
*At least eighteen tracks of Peruvian folk songs in Argentina in 1943 for the [[Odeon Records]] label, with Moisés Vivanco's group, Compañía Peruana de Arte—a group of forty-six Indian dancers, singers, and musicians. (Three additional tracks from these sessions are instrumentals or feature other vocalists.)(10" 78 rpm)
* ''Voice of the Xtabay'' (1950), Capitol Records 10" LP H244 (33 1/3) CD-244 (78 rpm set)
* ''Flahooley'' (1951), Capitol DF-284 (78 rpm set)
* ''Legend of the Sun Virgin'' (1952), Capitol DDN-299 (78 rpm set)
* ''Inca Taqui'' (1953), Capitol L-243 (10" LP)
* ''Mambo!'' (1954), Capitol T-564 (10" LP)
* ''Voice of the Xtabay & Inca Taqui'', (1955) Capitol W-684 (both on one 12" LP)
* ''Legend of the Jivaro'' (1957), Capitol T-770 (12" LP)
* ''Fuego Del Ande'' (1959), Capitol T-1169 (Monophonic); ST 1169 (Stereo) (mono and stereo versions were separate recordings) (12" LP)
* ''Recital'' (1961), Electrecord EDE-073 (12" LP) — reissued on CD, ESP-DISK' 4029 (2006)
* ''Miracles'' (1971), London XPS 608 (12" LP) — reissued with two additional tracks as ''Yma Rocks!'' (1998), ShamLys JOM-1027-2 (CD)
* ''I Wonder'' on [[Stay Awake (album)|Stay Awake: Various Interpretations of Music from Vintage Disney Films]], 1988 (one of Various Artists)
* ''Mambo ConFusion'' (1991), Deutsche Schallplatten Berlin (Germany CD Maxi-Single), DSB 3025-5 (CD Maxi-Single contains 'Radio Version,' longer 'Maxi Version,' and 'Mambo Hip' version)
Yma Súmac was born in Callao, El Callao, Peru. Other dates mentioned in her various biographies range from 1921 to 1929. Some sources claim that she was not born in Ichocán, but in a nearby village or possibly in Lima, and that her family owned a ranch in Ichocán where she spent most of her early life. Stories published in the 1950s claimed that she was an Incan princess directly descended from Atahualpa. A story claiming that she was actually born Amy Camus (Yma Sumac backwards) in Brooklyn or Canada was fabricated while she was performing in New York City in the early 1950s. She adopted the stage name of Imma Sumack (also spelled Ymma Sumack and Ima Sumack) in South America before she went to the U.S. The stage name was based on her mother's name which was derived from Ima Shumaq, Quechua for "how beautiful!" although in interviews she claimed it meant "beautiful flower" or "beautiful girl".
Imma Sumack first appeared on radio in 1942, and married composer and bandleader Moisés Vivanco on June 6 the same year. She recorded at least 23 tracks of Peruvian folk songs in Argentina in 1943 . These early recordings for the Odeon label featured Moisés Vivanco's group, Compañía Peruana de Arte, a group of 46 Indian dancers singers and musicians. In 1946, Sumack and Vivanco moved to New York City, where they performed as the Inca Taky Trio: Sumack herself singing coloratura soprano, Vivanco on guitar and her cousin Cholita Rivero singing contralto and dancing. Sumack bore a son, Charles, in 1949, and was signed by Capitol Records in 1950, at which time her stage name became "Yma Sumac".
During the 1950s, Yma Sumac produced a series of legendary lounge music recordings featuring Hollywood-style versions of Incan and South American folk songs, working with the likes of Les Baxter and Billy May. In 1951, she popularized Jorge Bravo de Rueda's classic song Vírgenes del Sol. The combination of her extraordinary voice, exotic looks and stage personality made her a hit with American audiences. Sumac even appeared in a Broadway musical, Flahooley, in 1951, as a foreign princess who brings Aladdin's lamp to an American toy factory to have it repaired. The show's score was by Sammy Fain and E.Y. "Yip" Harburg, but Sumac's four numbers were the work of Vivanco. Capitol Records, Sumac's label, recorded the show. Flahooley closed quickly but the recording continues as a cult classic, in part because it also marked the Broadway debut of Barbara Cook. During the height of Sumac's popularity, she appeared in the films Secret of the Incas (1954) and Omar Khayyam (1957). She became a U.S. citizen July 22, 1955
In 1957, Sumac and Vivanco divorced, their dispute making news in Los Angeles.[10] They remarried that same year before divorcing again in 1965. Apparently due to financial difficulties, Yma Sumac and the original Inca Taky Trio went on a world tour in 1961, which lasted for five years. They performed in 40 cities in the Soviet Union, and afterwards all over Europe, Asia and Latin America. Their performance in Bucharest, Romania was recorded as the album Recital, her only 'live in concert' record. Yma Sumac spent the rest of the 1960s performing sporadically.
In 1971, she released a rock album, called Miracles, and returned to live in Peru. She performed in concert from time to time during the 1970s in Peru and later in New York. In the 1980s, she had a number of concerts both in the U.S. and abroad . She sang Ataypura during a March 19, 1987 appearance on Late Night with David Letterman, appearing alongside actor-comedians Jerry Seinfeld and Bill Murray.
In 1989, she sang once again at The Ballroom in New York. In March 1990, she played the role of Heidi in Stephen Sondheim's Follies, in Long Beach, California, her first attempt at serious theater since Flahooley in 1951. In 1992, Günther Czernetsky directed a documentary titled Yma Sumac - Hollywoods Inkaprinzessin (Yma Sumac - Hollywood's Inca princess). She also gave several concerts in the summer of 1996 two more in Montreal, Canada in July 1997 as part of the Montreal International Jazz Festival.
Sumac's profile rose again when the song Ataypura was featured in the Coen Brothers' film The Big Lebowski. Her song Bo Mambo appeared in a commercial for Kahlua liquor, and was sampled for the Hands Upsong by the Black Eyed Peas. The song Gopher Mambo was used in the films Ordinary Decent Criminal and Confessions of a Dangerous Mind. The songs Goomba Boomba and Malambo No. 1 appeared in Death to Smoochy.
On May 6, 2006, Sumac flew to Lima, where she was presented the Orden del Sol award by Peruvian President Alejandro Toledo, and the Jorge Basadre medal by the Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos.
Yma Sumac recorded an incredible vocal range of more than four octaves, from B2 to C♯7 (approximately 123 to 2270 Hz). She was able to sing notes in the low baritone register as well as notes above the range of an ordinary coloratura soprano. Both low and high extremes can be heard in the song Chuncho (The Forest Creatures) (1950)
Yma Sumac passed away at an assisted living facility in Los Angeles, California on November 1, 2008.
==Discography==
*At least eighteen tracks of Peruvian folk songs in Argentina in 1943 for the [[Odeon Records]] label, with Moisés Vivanco's group, Compañía Peruana de Arte—a group of forty-six Indian dancers, singers, and musicians. (Three additional tracks from these sessions are instrumentals or feature other vocalists.)(10" 78 rpm)
* ''Voice of the Xtabay'' (1950), Capitol Records 10" LP H244 (33 1/3) CD-244 (78 rpm set)
* ''Flahooley'' (1951), Capitol DF-284 (78 rpm set)
* ''Legend of the Sun Virgin'' (1952), Capitol DDN-299 (78 rpm set)
* ''Inca Taqui'' (1953), Capitol L-243 (10" LP)
* ''Mambo!'' (1954), Capitol T-564 (10" LP)
* ''Voice of the Xtabay & Inca Taqui'', (1955) Capitol W-684 (both on one 12" LP)
* ''Legend of the Jivaro'' (1957), Capitol T-770 (12" LP)
* ''Fuego Del Ande'' (1959), Capitol T-1169 (Monophonic); ST 1169 (Stereo) (mono and stereo versions were separate recordings) (12" LP)
* ''Recital'' (1961), Electrecord EDE-073 (12" LP) — reissued on CD, ESP-DISK' 4029 (2006)
* ''Miracles'' (1971), London XPS 608 (12" LP) — reissued with two additional tracks as ''Yma Rocks!'' (1998), ShamLys JOM-1027-2 (CD)
* ''I Wonder'' on [[Stay Awake (album)|Stay Awake: Various Interpretations of Music from Vintage Disney Films]], 1988 (one of Various Artists)
* ''Mambo ConFusion'' (1991), Deutsche Schallplatten Berlin (Germany CD Maxi-Single), DSB 3025-5 (CD Maxi-Single contains 'Radio Version,' longer 'Maxi Version,' and 'Mambo Hip' version)
Don't Bring Me Down
Yma Sumac Lyrics
We have lyrics for 'Don't Bring Me Down' by these artists:
- E.L.O. You got me runnin' goin' out of my mind You got…
2 Chainz The night is young i'm going in Up in the sky…
2 Many DJ's You got me runnin' goin' out of my mind You got…
2 Many DJs Don't bring me down. Brrooss. Don't bring me down. Brrooss.…
8 Ball The night is young (the night is young) Come and go…
8 Ball & 2 Chainz The night is young (the night is young) Come and go…
8Ball The night is young (the night is young) Come and go…
Andy Timmons Could you wait a little longer before you get angry 'Cause…
Animals When you complain and criticize I feel I'm nothing…
Axxis I get lost in jungle In the endless world wide web A…
Black Eyed Peas Ah-ah-aah-ah Ah-ah-aah-ah (x4) Hey, watz up We back up …
Blackeyed Susan Hey, where ya been You went back to him Talk to another Y…
Boys Boys Boys You got me fucked up And I can’t hold on you You…
Brock Downey I got kicked out, of school But that was years ago My…
Burn You got me runnin' goin' out of my mind You got…
Chants R&B They wanna bring me down For something I didn't do But nothi…
David Bowie Hm hm hm Hm hm hm I'm on my own, nowhere to…
Dokken I played the fool, it seems a thousand times before When…
E.L.O. II You got me runnin' goin' out of my mind You got…
E.L.O.- Electric Light Orchestra You got me runnin', goin' out of my mind You got…
E.L.Q. You got me runnin' goin' out of my mind You got…
Eddie Meduza Don't bring me down Don't bring me down I've gotta stop to…
Eden's Curse I am my own man My life is real not fantasy That's…
Edwin McCain Well I don't drive a fast car You know it just…
Edwin McCain Band Well I don't drive a fast car You know it just…
Elaine Don't bring me down Don't bring me down I really don't want…
Electric Light Orchestra You got me runnin', goin' out of my mind You got…
Electric Light Orchestra Part II You got me runnin' goin' out of my mind You got…
Electric Light Orchestra You got me runnin', goin' out of my mind You got…
ELO You got me running, going out of my mind You got…
ELO Part II You got me runnin' goin' out of my mind, You got…
ELO [Electric Light Orchestra] You got me running, going out of my mind You got…
Eric Burdon When you complain and criticize I feel I'm nothing…
Eric Burdon The Animals When you complain and criticize I feel I'm nothing…
Eric Burdon & Brian Auger Band When you complain and criticize I feel I'm nothing…
Eric Burdon & The New Animals When you complain and criticize I feel I'm nothing…
Eric Burdon - Brian Auger Band When you complain and criticize I feel I'm nothing…
Eric Burdon / The Animals When you complain and criticize I feel I'm nothing…
Eric Burdon and Brian Auger Band When you complain and criticize I feel I'm nothing…
Eric Burdon and the Animals When you complain and criticize I feel I'm nothing…
Eric Burdon/Brian Auger Band When you complain and criticize I feel I'm nothing…
Feeder Pay the rent, make the dent Break the routine, smell the…
G. Point Allstars Don't let me down Say you will stay I'm counting on you Reme…
G.T. Se c'è una regola compà io sarò l'eccezione Se tutti parlano…
G.T.R.R.C Don't let me down (phoenix, phoenix) Don't let me down again…
Gentleman Reg Held out my hand this morning Still all is dark but…
H-Blockx Time has come just to say what I think and…
Harmonee Yeah , yeah Head in the clouds, intoxicated Been flyin' high…
Heavens Gate I've never been the man I meant to be There's a…
Hervé When your anger falls asleep and When there is nothing…
J Church You got me runnin' goin' out of my mind You got…
Jeff Lynne You got me runnin' goin' out of my mind, You got…
Joe T. Vannelli When the starlight is vibrant And the shine gets too bright…
joe t. vannelli project Don't let me down, don't let me down. Don't let me…
Joseph C. Phaze Children are taught to hate Parents just couldn't wait Some …
Juliana Hatfield You got me running, going out of my mind You got…
Justin Oh If I can, if I could build you up Don't bring…
KITCHEN - Electric Light Orchestra You got me runnin', goin' out of my mind You got…
L.E.O. You got me runnin' goin' out of my mind You got…
Labelle You got me runnin' goin' out of my mind, You got…
Lisa Millet Don’t bring me down, ooooo, bring me down, ahaah, your love…
Lisa Millett Don't bring me down, ooooo, Bring me down, Ahaah, your …
Micky Dolenz When you complain and criticize I feel I'm nothing in your…
Mr. Orange Undercover With my blood in my hands I am greeting the…
Nativo You got me runnin' goin' out of my mind, You got…
Northern King You got me runnin goin out of my mind, You got…
Northern Kings Don't Bring Me Down You got me runnin' goin' out of…
OP L Bastards You got me runnin' goin' out of my mind You got…
OP + L Bastards Don't bring me down. Brrooss. Don't bring me down. Brrooss.…
Op:l Bastards You got me runnin' goin' out of my mind You got…
P. Hux Se eu te der todo o meu coração Se eu pedir…
Parthenon Huxley You got me runnin' goin' out of my mind You got…
Patti LaBelle You got me runnin' goin' out of my mind, You got…
Paul Shaffer Oh, oh, no, don't bring me down! Oh, oh, no, don't…
Prep No trippin' up No losing touch Just keep your eye on what…
Pretty Things When you complain and criticize I feel I'm nothing…
Push Play Don't bring me down [Yeah] Don't bring me down When the worl…
Red Rooster Original Baby I’m insane Baby you should see my brain It’s all…
Riot You took my money, baby, you steal my cigarettes. First chan…
Rizzle Kicks I know, I know, I know And I know, I…
Sia Faint light of dawn I'm listening to you breathing in and…
Sia - [EMG] Faint light of dawn I'm listening to you breathing in and…
Sia/Musicfire.in Faint light of dawn I'm listening to you breathing in and…
Starcrossed Don't bring me down I'm not playing at your level Don't brin…
Stars Align I′ve given up waiting on a better day So I turn…
Status Quo You got me runnin' goin' out of my mind You got…
SUB DUB MICROMACHINE Same s*** different day Better get out of my way I don't…
Swag You got me runnin' goin' out of my mind You got…
The Animals THE ANIMALS - Don’t Bring Me Down When you complain, and…
The Animals feat. Eric Burdon When you complain and criticize I feel I'm nothing…
The Black Eyed Peas Ah-ah-aah-ah Ah-ah-aah-ah (x4) Hey, watz up We back up …
The Chants R&B They wanna bring me down For something I didn't do But nothi…
The Cindells I'm on my own Nowhere to roam I tell you, man Don't want…
The Coats You got me runnin' goin' out of my mind You got…
The Ettes I got you in mind But he's watchin' with his eye…
The Legends She walked right up to me Said the things that bring…
The Monkees It used to be such a good thing Such an easy…
The Pretty Things I'm on my own, nowhere to roam I tell you baby,…
The Star-Lord's Don't let me down, don't let me down. Don't let me…
the Valla I lost two friends to depression in the same crowd…
Tina & The B-Side Movement So why don't you just break me down tonight Thinking for…
Tina and the B-Side Movement They wanna bring me down For something I didn't do But nothi…
TobyMac Do you remember The southern breakfast treat Referred to as …
Tom Petty When you complain and criticize I feel I'm nothing…
Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers When you complain and criticize I feel like nothing in your…
Two Feet The darkened skyline Outside my room A kingdom that I Gave u…
Various Artists You got me runnin' goin' out of my mind You got…
Whip I don’t have no patience for you Don’t tell that you…
Will Yeah I been alone for along time yeah Don’t want to…
X-Members When you complain and criticize I feel I'm nothing in your…
Y & T (Yesterday & Today) Cyber-troll With your cap locks on Such a drag Hatin' all da…
Y&T Cyber-troll With your cap locks on Such a drag Hatin' all…
Yeti Girls You got me runnin' goin' out of my mind You got…
Electric Light Orchestra You got me runnin', goin' out of my mind You got…
We have lyrics for these tracks by Yma Sumac:
Babalu Está empezando el velorio Que le hacemos a Babalú Dame die…
Bo Mambo Bam balai lamento negro que va Bonbai es la danza para…
Ccori Canastitay ナオト・インティライミ – LIFE Posted by OO on August 17, 2014 in…
Clamor Anoche te tuve en mis brazos Un solo momento, momento de…
Dale Que Dale Dale que dale vidita, ay dale dale que dale cholito…
El Condor Pasa La la la la la la la La la la la…
Flor De Canela Déjame que te cuente limeño, Déjame que te diga la gloria De…
Gallito Caliente (The Hot Rooster) Por las nochecitas, un gallo malandrín. Ronda las pollitas, …
Gallito Ciego A mí me llaman gallito, y se olvidan que soy…
Goomba Boomba Negro de mi corazón, te quiero. Mi corazón dejé en llamas…
Indian Carnival Uh! Uh! Uh! Uh! El besito que me distes, el besito que me d…
Kuyaway Kuyaway, palabra del amor. Inka song, que viene del Perú. Su…
La Flor De La Canela (The Cinnamon Flower) Dejame que te cuente limeño Dejame que diga la gloria Del e…
La molina Yuca de San Borja Samorengue esta Para ir a saña Samorengue …
La Molina (The Mill Song) Bá, bababá, bababá, bá Para pá tiritá: Kamburengue Bá, baba…
La Pampa y la Puna Desde mi pampa divina Salté a la cordillera Linda joven andi…
La Perla De Chira Del chira eres la perla Sultana de las sultanas… Recuerdo …
Llora Corazon (Crying Heart) Por no querer perdonarte, me está matando el dolor, Y aunque…
Malambo N. 1 What they do in Peru, Tusurikusun viditay What they do in P…
Malambo No 1 ¡Ah! What they do in Peru Tusurikusun viditay ¡Ah! What they…
Malambo No. 1 What they do in peru, Tusurikusun viditay* A ti solito te qu…
Malambo N°1 What they do in Peru, Tusurikusun viditay What they do in P…
Marinera Una mujer bonita está segura que en el amor Con su…
Melgar Blanca ciudad, de eterno cielo azul Puro sol, montañas de mi…
Mi Palomita A mi palomita se la han robado cuatro forajidos A ver…
Monkeys ¡Ay, hay vienen mis monos! ¡Pero que gusto que me da…
Suray Surita Kay sonqoytan kamachini: jway! Llaqtay! Suray Surita! "Aman …
Taki Rari /Hernan Brana/ (P) 1954…
Wimoweh In the jungle the mighty jungle the lion sleeps tonight In…
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