“I want to be remembered as the artist who made good music and made all hearts happy,” said Peruvian-born singer, composer, actress, and model Yma Sumac. A pioneer of world music, she had a five-octave range and shattered the mold of popular American music with records featuring Incan and South American folk motifs. 

Born “Zoila Augusta Emperatriz Chavarri de Castillo” on September 13, 1922, in Callao, Peru, Sumac changed her name upon signing with Capitol Records in 1950. Her moniker modeled the term ima sumaq, meaning “how beautiful” in Quechua. 

Released that same year, Sumac’s album “Voice of the Xtabay” garnered global attention. In 1951, Sumac appeared in the musical Flahooley, making her one of the first Latinas to perform on Broadway. For her extraordinary vocal range, she was recognized in the first edition of the Guinness Book of World Records. She performed throughout much of her life, recording and appearing onstage and in movies all over the world.  

Yma Sumac first relocated to the United States in 1946. In 1954, she passed through the Port of New York while returning from a tour in Europe and was held at Ellis Island for seven days on charges that were not made public. This record can be found in the Ellis Island Passenger Database under Passenger ID 2H46-CWS. Sumac became a naturalized American citizen one year later, a decision which permanently strained her relationship with her country of origin.  

In 1971, Sumac released her final record – a rock album titled “Miracles.” She died in Los Angeles on November 1, 2008, leaving behind an unforgettable legacy. Since her passing, an entire intersection of the Hollywood Walk of Fame has been declared Yma Sumac Square, and a statue of Sumac was unveiled at Hollywood Forever Cemetery.   

For more on the life and legacy of Yma Sumac, enjoy this episode of UNTOLD ELLIS ISLAND, produced by our colleagues at the American Family Immigration History Center. 

Despite her reservations, Sumac often dressed in extravagant costumes for public appearances and performances. This inauthentic representation of Peruvian culture caused controversy amongst Peruvians.

She performed throughout much of her life, recording and appearing onstage and in movies. In 1971, Sumac released her final record – a rock album titled “Miracles.”

Yma Sumac died in Los Angeles on November 1, 2008, leaving behind an unforgettable legacy.

Yma Sumac can be found in the Ellis Island Passenger Database (Passenger ID 9011972103304) as she passed through the Port of New York while traveling back from a tour in Europe. She was held at Ellis Island for seven days for charges that were not made public.

For more on the life and legacy of Yma Sumac, enjoy this episode of UNTOLD ELLIS ISLAND, produced by our colleagues at the American Family Immigration History Center.