Yma Sumac

The Profile

Peruvian singer and actress celebrated for an extraordinary four-to-five-octave range, Yma Sumac became a global sensation in the 1950s with Capitol Records releases blending Andean folk, exotica, and mambo. She debuted on Broadway in 1951 and received the Order of the Sun of Peru, touring extensively across Europe, the Americas, and beyond.

Peruvian national; renowned for a four–five octave vocal range; recorded for Capitol Records; Broadway debut in 1951 (Flahooley); honored as Commander of the Order of the Sun of Peru; internationally toured and popularized songs like Ataypura and Taita Inty.

Three glowing reviews celebrate Yma Sumac’s extraordinary vocal range and theatrical flair, spotlighting tracks like Chuncho and Taita Inty. They trace her global tours, Capitol Records era, and a 1951 Broadway debut. One review cites her Order of the Sun of Peru honor. Recommended listening spans compilations and albums that shaped exotica and mambo.