Zoila Augusta Emperatriz Chávarri del Castillo, better known as Yma Sumac, was a Peruvian-American coloratura soprano of immense talent, born on September 10, 1923, and passing away on November 1, 2008. During the 1950s, Sumac rose to international fame as one of the most prominent exponents of the exotic exotica music genre.
Her extraordinary vocal range was the primary factor behind her success, with some reports claiming she possessed an astonishing six and a half octaves. However, other reports and recordings from the peak of her singing career suggest a more modest four and a half octaves. For context, a typical trained singer typically has a range of around three octaves, underscoring Sumac's remarkable vocal abilities.
