Dia De Los Muertos: Yma Sumac Has Died

Eighty-six year old Peruvian singer Yma Sumac has died of colon cancer in an assisted-living facility in Silver Lake, California. Sumac, who had a multi-octave singing range, was known as the “Nightingale of the Andes” and the “Peruvian Songbird.” An LA Times writer wrote of her, in 1955:

“She warbles like a bird in the uppermost regions, hoots like an owl in the lowest registers, produces bell-like coloratura passages one minute, and exotic, dusky contralto tones the next.”

She also knew how to apply winged eyeliner like no one’s business. Rest in peace, Yma! Her voice was seriously extraordinary Check it out:

Yma Sumac, ‘Peruvian songbird’ with multi-octave range, dies at 86 [LA Times]