Yma Sumac

Peruvian singer

Born: September 13, 1922 · Died: November 1, 2008

Famous Persons

Who was Yma Sumac?

Zoila Emperatriz Chávarri Castillo (September 13, 1922 – November 1, 2008), known as Yma Sumac (from Quechua "Ima sumaq", meaning "how beautiful"), was a Peruvian-born vocalist, actress, model, musical composer and producer. Zoila Emperatriz Chávarri Castillo, known as Yma Sumac, was a Peruvian-born vocalist, actress, model, musical composer and producer. Her debut album, Voice of the Xtabay (1950), peaked at number one on 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, becoming an international success in the 1950s. Subsequent albums including Legend of the Sun Virgin (1952), Fuego del Ande (1959) and Mambo! In "Chuncho (The Forest Creatures)" (1953), she developed her own technical singing, named "double voice" or "triple coloratura". During the same period, she performed at Carnegie Hall and Lewisohn Stadium.

Mai Zetterling, Danny Kaye and Yma Sumac during the 1950s

Historical significance

She won a Guinness World Record for the Greatest Range of Musical Value in 1956. She has also been called "Queen of Exotica" and is considered a pioneer of world music. In 1951, Sumac became the first Latin American and Peruvian female singer to debut on Broadway.

Sumac (right) with Vivanco and Rivero, 1947

Sources and further reading

Use the dated article for the day-specific account; use these references to check the event record and explore its wider historical context.

Wikipedia source

Cite this page

MLA

“Yma Sumac.” thisDay, thisday.info/people/yma-sumac/. Accessed 9 Nov. 2026.

APA

Yma Sumac. (n.d.). thisDay. Retrieved November 9, 2026, from https://thisday.info/people/yma-sumac/

Chicago

“Yma Sumac.” thisDay. Accessed November 9, 2026. https://thisday.info/people/yma-sumac/.

Found an error? Let us know.