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Yma Sumac profile photo

Acting

Yma Sumac

Born
Sep 10, 1923 · Aged 85
Died
Nov 1, 2008
Place of birth
Ichocan, Cajamarca, Peru
Gender
Female
Movie credits
6
TV credits
2
Also known as (1)
  • Zoila Augusta Emperatriz Chávarri del Castillo

Biography

Yma Sumac (born Zoila Augusta Emperatriz Chávarri del Castillo, September 10, 1923 – November 1, 2008), was a Peruvian–American coloratura soprano. In the 1950s, she was one of the most famous exponents of exotica music. Sumac became an international success based on her extreme vocal range. She had six and a half octaves according to some reports, but other reports (and recordings) document four and a half at the peak of her singing career. (A typical trained singer has a range of about three octaves).