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)
My Destiny
Yma Sumac Lyrics
We have lyrics for 'My Destiny' by these artists:
A.R.D.I. & Allam You're my destiny (you're my destiny) Oh, oh, oh my destin-,…
Ahn Jae-Mo 거친 내 삶 속에 햇살을 비추던 한 사람 그런 널 보내며 날…
AI Carry on to my love Finally I found the one and i…
ALHAZ My destiny Couplet 1 Tu peux cacher l'oseille On va…
alton mc lain and destiny Here I am, it’s me again Waiting for my purpose And the…
AndileAndy An element of gravity An element of gravity An element of gr…
Andrew W.K. Called Up Your Number Fourteen Times To See If You Were…
Angel Heart Say goodbye Hitorikiri nakitsukareta yorutachi ni Say hello …
Arachnes The little ghosts are here in our minds; and I know that, …
Billy Eckstine My destiny is to be in love with you Makes no…
C.A.B.L.E 鉛筆けずれてく そしてほら なくなった 気がつけば そこにある 消費してく 日常 夢の先探してる 掴めそう 触れない た…
Chaka Khan I'm the ruler of my destiny - I'm determine what…
Claude Kelly Yeah yeah yeah yeah... Yeah yeah yeah yeah... Never been…
Crom Be my star, light the way For we are oh so…
D.D.D You're my destiny (you're my destiny) Oh, oh, oh my destin-,…
DBSK Kaeritai nagai yoru ni Boku no mune wa mada mayotteiru Kaere…
DelinQuent (feat. Kcat) Don't need to think to hard, About what to…
Delinquent Feat. KCAT Dont need to think to hard, About what to say to…
Demon Hunter I cast my heart unto the beast Unto my sin I would…
Demon Hunter - I cast my heart unto the beast Unto my sin I would…
DISCIPLINA In my mind i see his eyes Cold as ice and…
Donna De Lory I remember memories from a long long time ago I can…
Dr. Z-Vago My life and story is about resilience I have dealt with…
Fastbacks No one knows What's best for me No one know My destiny All I…
Fisun There's a look in your eye that says you want…
G-Groove I appreciate that i went to jail and They made me…
Gary Valenciano What if I never knew What if I never found you I'd…
ISU (M.C The Max) Jeogi bamhaneurui byeoreun algo itgetjyo Naega eolmana keuda…
James Wright OVERVIEW LISTEN A chance to be with you once again Memorie…
Kanon Say goodbye Hitorikiri Nakitsukareta Yorutachi ni Say hello…
Katharine McPhee I have always dreamed of this I'll admit that there was…
Lea-D You're my destiny (you're my destiny) Oh, oh, oh my destin-,…
Leaves' Eyes My destiny I made a promise I couldn't keep I left my…
Leaves' Eyes (7) My destiny I made a promise I couldn't keep I left my…
Leaves´ Eyes My destiny I made a promise I couldn't keep I left my…
Leaves´Eyes My destiny I made a promise I couldn't keep I left my…
Lionel Richie You came in That's what my little heart was looking for Laug…
Lionel Richie / The Commodores You came in That's what my little heart was looking for La…
Lionel Richie À³ÅµÀîÆæ You came in That's what my little heart was looking for Laug…
Lionel Ritchie You came in That's what my little heart was looking for la…
Lyn Na dasi heoraghandamyeon Geudael dasi bol su itdamyeon Nae j…
Lyn (린) 나 다시 허락한다면 그댈 다시 볼 수 있다면 내 지난 기억 속에서…
Lyn(린) Na dashi heoraghandamyeon Geudael dashi bol su itdamyeon Nae…
M.Y.T Rockstar this shit is my destiny Your lipstick, just like th…
Maricris Garcia A chance to be with you once again Memories of all…
Mario Lanza My destiny Your smile is my destiny And I must be…
MARIUZ.D ほら Shine love Shine love 昨日の雨が嘘みたいな青空 ぱっと着替えたら 君に逢いにゆこう 同じよう…
McPhee Katharine I have always dreamed of this I'll admit that there was…
Mika Jones I've been trying to live my life With no casualties Every ti…
Mr. Criminal Baby, baby, baby, I want you here and now Baby, baby,…
Naoki Kenji I'm am aware now about the difference between you and me I…
Regine Velasquez I used to be. So locked up inside. And very…
Rome Streetz The way I went from nothing to something You woulda thought…
Sertac Nidai Mustag la3neek, ya 7abibi Inta ya ro7i, ya albi, ya nasibi B…
Shihori(A-One) You're my destiny (you're my destiny) Oh, oh, oh my destin-,…
The Byrds (H. Carter) Cursed with sorrow pain and woe Full of feelings…
Tohoshinki/Dong Bang Shin Ki 帰りたい 長い夜に 僕の胸は まだ迷っている 帰れない 淡い朝に 告げた誓い 嘘になるから あの頃の 僕らの影が 今立ち…
Trish Thuy Trang Moonlight high above the trees Such a peaceful night it is …
Tvxq Kaeritai nagai yoru ni boku no mune wa mada mayotteiru Kaere…
TVXQ! |동방신기| 帰りたい 長い夜に 僕の胸は まだ迷っている 帰れない 淡い朝に 告げた誓い 嘘になるから あの頃の 僕らの影が 今立ち…
Velvet Life is coming clear Everytime you're near me Wishing you we…
Wanda Jackson Cursed with sorrow, pain and woe Full of feeling I can't…
Yomo Ya', Joey, te quiero papi Mami Esto es pa' to'a mi familia,…
¸°(Lyn) Na dasi heoraghandamyeon Geudael dasi bol su itdamyeon Nae j…
横山輝一 夕ぐれの人ごみに 君をみつけたよ ひさしぶりの笑顔 おとなびてた もういちど出逢ったことは 偶然だけじゃない 愛しあうこ…
織田かおり どこに隠れていたって 君の事 すぐに見つけてみせるから 騒ぐ風を切り裂いたら 衝動に任せて 愛になりたいよ 迷い込んだ…
超新星 I'm your...I'm your destiny... destiny... destiny... destiny…
동방신기 帰りたい 長い夜に 僕の胸は まだ迷っている 帰れない 淡い朝に 告げた誓い 嘘になるから あの頃の 僕らの影が 今立ち…
린 나 다시 허락한다면 그댈 다시 볼 수 있다면 내 지난 기억 속에서 그…
린 (Lyn) 나 다시 허락한다면 그댈 다시 볼 수 있다면 내 지난 기억 속에서…
린(Lyn) Na dasi heoraghandamyeon Geudael dasi bol su itdamyeon Nae j…
안재모 거친 내 삶 속에 햇살을 비추던 한 사람 그런 널 보내며 날…
이향유 내 곁에 다가와 줘요 날 아직 사랑한다면 두 눈에 고인 눈물이 그대를 원하죠 사랑해요 You're…
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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