Posted on 11/03/2008 7:56:47 PM PST by nickcarraway
Legendary soprano Yma Sumac, the "Peruvian Songbird who dazzled music lovers in the 1950s and 60s with her incredible range, died at an assisted living facility in Los Angeles, her website said Monday. She was 86.
"It is with deep sadness, that we report that Yma Sumac passed away at 11 am on Saturday November 1st. It was peaceful. Those closest to her were at her side," said a website statement.
The Los Angeles Times said Sumac, who had been living in Los Angeles for the past 60 years, died of cancer.
Sumac was born Zoila Augusta Emperatriz Chavarri del Castillo, in Peru, but rose to fame through her golden vocals in the Hollywood of the 1950s, where she took the name of Yma Sumac, or "how pretty" in Inca's Quechua language.
The Peruvian Songbird, as she became known, traveled across Europe and Japan presenting herself as an Inca priestess and astounding audiences with her five-octave range.
She acted with Charlton Heston in the 1953 film "The Secret of the Inca," and cut numerous records with her unique style combining folk music, jazz, salsa and even rock 'n' roll that made her both famous and critically acclaimed.
"Yma Sumac has a voice totally out of the ordinary," said Lyrical Association of Peru president Enrique Bernales.
He told Lima's radio RPP she had a range of five-octaves, "the only known voice in the 20th century capable of such a wonder ... she was never out of tune, with all the notes precise in tone and register."
"She is the only Peruvian whose name is written in Hollywood's Walk of Fame," another Lima radio station said Monday, remembering Sumac.
The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce said it would place flowers on the Peruvian Songbird's star in the fabled sidewalk, and called on all
(Excerpt) Read more at afp.google.com ...
watch out for the giant guinea pigs
Are there any people still alive today who were alive at the start of the Obama campaign?
She truly had a phenomenal voice. A big loss.
My father, a Stan Kenton/Johnny Cash/Ravel kind of music aficionado, loved Yma Sumac’s music. One of the only times I saw him - a hardened veteran of WWII - shed a tear was when I accidentally cracked his irreplaceable 78 rpm recording of her singing “Voice of the Xtabay”. He never said a word about it again, but as an eight-year-old I vowed I would someday find another recording for him.
Thirty-two years later, as he was dying of cancer, I found the CD of Yma Sumac’s “Voice of the Xtabay” for him to enjoy. It was the only way I could ever have forgiven myself for making my father cry...
It is a strange thing to look into the heart of an old man, and find the young and the exotic still living there. For that, I thank God for the voice of Yma Sumac and the gift of her healing voice to that Veteran’s wounded spirit...
How do you say “R.I.P.” in 5-octaves?
I was thinking the same thing, but she isn’t exactly part of a Peruvian pan flute band-she was a singer.
I was born in 52 so didn’t become aware of people like Yma Sumac , Martin Denny , Les Baxter and Arthur Lyman until many years later when a revival of sorts took place in the late 80’s and early 90’s . I love this music as much as the rock and roll I grew up with . I believe a biography of Yma’s life was just recently published . I’ve had an original 10” copy of Voice Of The Extabay hanging on my wall for weeks now . Dig the tiki cover ! RIP Yma .
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.