Sep 13, 2025
Born 103 years ago today: wondrous operatic Peruvian High Empress of Exotica Yma Sumac (née Zoila Emperatriz Chavarri Castillo, 13 September 1922 - 1 November 2008). All these decades later, Sumac’s divine superhuman voice still inspires awe! I revere all of Sumac’s recordings, but Legend of the Sun Virgin (1952) is a particular favourite. Pictured: portrait of gorgeous young Yma Sumac by Peter Stackpole for LIFE magazine (1950).