RIP Yma Sumac

[Bluebear]

If you never heard this most exotic songstress, here is a YouTube clip:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-6eKroZeIg

Many things were considered amazing about Yma Sumac, from her exotic costumes to her claims about being an Inca princess. But her extraordinary voice is what really made her special.

Known as the Peruvian songbird, it ranged over more than four octaves. It made her a Hollywood star in the 1950s and she stunned audiences globally throughout her long career.

To this day Sumac, who died at the weekend, is considered to have one of the biggest vocal ranges of any singer in history.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/7708522.stm

[BrklynLiberal]

1. I have heard of her. I was surprised she was only 86.

[Bluebear]

3. Kind of a Peruvian Minnie Riperton

[BrklynLiberal]

9. Yeah. That was some voice!!!!!!! 5 1/2 octaves

My favorite song was "Loving you"
I have that album with the cover showing her holding a melting ice-cream cone.

Did you know that Maya Rudolph..from SNL..is her daughter..?

[Bluebear]

15. I just found that out recently!

And that the end of "Lovin' You", Minnie is singing "Maya, Maya, Maya, Maya..." :)

[valerief]

2. Oh, sorry to hear this. She was amazing. However, I must admit

I only really liked her Mambo album. I've listened to that until my ears bled.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yhUBJZdL8BY&feature=related

[Bluebear]

4. Malambo #1 rocks :)

[Fran Kubelik]

5. love love love Yma Sumac

RIP Yma.

[Swamp Rat]

6. Was was a magnificent vocalist

RIP

[Kind of Blue]

7. Wow! Never heard of her before in my life. And I thank you for posting.

Can't wait to share it!

[Canuckistanian]

8. All I remember of her is this funny New Yorker article from the 60s

"ABSTRACT: In this dream, which the writer has had on the night of the full moon for the past 3 months, he is giving a cocktail party in honor of Yma Sumac, the Peruvian singer. Since all of his guests seem to know him rather intimately & do not know one another, Miss Sumac suggests that he introduce the guests only by their first name. The guests are: Ava Gardner, Abba Eban, Oona O'Neill, Ugo Betti, Ona Munson, Ida Lupino, the young Aga Khan, Ira Wolfert, Ilya Ehrenburg, Eva Gabor, & Uta Hagen. Complications arise when he has to make the introductions. "Yma, Uta; Yma, Ava; Yma, Oona; Yma, Ona; Yma, Ida; Yma, Ugo; Yma, Abba; Yma, Ilya; Yma, Ira; Yma, Aga; Yma, Eva." Miss Sumac becomes annoyed. The circle of guests move menacingly toward the writer. When the bell rings & it is the Polish concert pianist, Mieczyslaw Horszowski, the dream ends."

http://www.newyorker.com/archive/1962/02/24/1962_02_24_035_TNY_CARDS_000270303

I remember that it was made into a radio skit by somebody....

[valerief]

10. Shades of Letterman at the Oscars. Uma, Oprah. Oprah, Uma. Ha!

[valerief]

11. Here's a review of her Mambo CD I wrote a few years ago at epinions.

http://www10.epinions.com/review/musc_mu-148231/content_46046088836

Everyone should own this CD.

[TlalocW]

12. My favorite routine to a Yma Sumac song

From Cirque du Soleil's, "Quidam," a dance/juggling routine to, "Gopher Mambo."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QrJ1whvy070

TlalocW

[Loudmxr]

13. I worked with Yma Sumac. Wow what a voice.

About 25 years ago I was legendary producer Bumps Blackwell's (Little Richard Quincey Jones) engineer and we did a couple of records with her. Some Jazzy uptempo latinesque stuff. I seem to remember Joe Sample on keyboards.

She was this tiny lady.:loveya: So cute and not only a spectacular vocal range but dynamic range too. It was a fight to get her above the track sometimes when mixing the tunes.

I don't think the record went anywhere or that is about the time Bumps died. But I hadn't thought of that in years. Thanks for posting. B-)

[progressoid]

16. Cool. Explain this please...

"It was a fight to get her above the track sometimes" What do you mean "above the track"?

[Liberal_in_LA]

14. This clip shows off her skills...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLoEyKy6xTc&feature=related