Inca Music: Yma Sumac, the Castafiore Inca, dies at 86

Yma Sumac, 'Peruvian songbird' with multi-octave range, dies at 86

The singer with a persona matching her exotic voice became an international sensation in the 1950s.

Yma Sumac, the Peruvian-born singer whose spectacular multi-octave vocal range and exotic persona made her an international sensation in the 1950s, has died. She was 86. Sumac, who was diagnosed with colon cancer in February, died Saturday in an assisted-living facility in Silver Lake, said Damon Devine, her personal assistant and close friend.

Bursting onto the American music scene after signing with Capitol Records in 1950, the raven-haired Sumac was known as the "Nightingale of the Andes," the "Peruvian Songbird" and a "singing marvel" with a 4 1/2-octave (she said five-octave) voice. Source: Los Angeles Times by Dennis McLellan November 3, 2008.

Yma Súmac (1922 - 2008),Yma Sumac, the Peruvian Songbird, enchanted the world with her unparalleled soprano voice, spanning over four octaves. Born in 1922, her remarkable talent and exotic stage persona made her a global sensation in the 1950s. Sumac's debut album, "Voice of the Xtabay," showcased her extraordinary vocal range and led to international acclaim. Celebrated as the Inca Princess, she left an indelible mark on popular culture, influencing the exotica and lounge music genres. Sumac's legacy endures as a trailblazer in vocal artistry, admired for her authenticity and captivating performances. Her impact on music and her unique contribution to global culture remain timeless.

El Condor Pasa is a typical Inca dance, based on authentic Incan folk melodies. Around 1916, Peruvian composer Daniel Alomia Robles notated this popular traditional melody and used it as the basis for an instrumental suite. The English Lyrics, 'If I could, I surely would' words, are by Paul Simon (Simon & Garfunkel)!

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