Voice of the Xtabay

Voice of the Xtabay
Studio album by
Yma Sumac
Released1950
Recorded1950
Genre
LabelCapitol
ProducerLes Baxter
Yma Sumac chronology
Voice of the Xtabay
(1950) 		Legend of the Sun Virgin
(1951)

Voice of the Xtabay is the first studio album by Peruvian soprano Yma Sumac. It was released in 1950 by Capitol Records. It was produced and composed by Les Baxter, along with Moisés Vivanco and John Rose. Sumac sings on the album, accompanied by ethnic percussion and musical variations influenced by the music of Peru.[2] Sumac had a notable vocal range, of about five octaves.

The album entered several Billboard charts on the year of its release.[3]

The songs "Virgin of the Sun God", "High Andes!" and "Earthquake" were used in the 1954 film Secret of the Incas, which featured Sumac as Kori-Tica.

The album was reissued in the UK in 1956 with different artwork.[4][5]

The album quickly sold 500,000 copies, and was No. 1 on Variety's best-seller list at the end of 1950, surpassing albums by Bing Crosby and Ethel Merman.[6] The album sold one million copies in 1950 alone.[7][8][9]

  1. ^ a b Adinolfi, Francesco (April 25, 2008). "The Laboratory of Dr. Les Baxter". In Pinkus, Karen (ed.). Mondo Exotica - Sounds, Visions, Obsessions of the Cocktail Generation. Durham: Duke University Press. p. 51.
  2. ^ Yma Sumac Voice Of The Xtabay CD Cd Universe. Retrieved 21-12-2010
  3. ^ Yma Sumac Billboard Consultado el 19 de agosto de 2018
  4. ^ Voice of the Xtabay Discogs. Retrieved 21-12-2010
  5. ^ Voice of the Xtabay (alternative edition) RateYourMusic. Retrieved 21-12-2010
  6. ^ Martin, Douglas (4 November 2008). "Yma Sumac, Vocalist of Exotic, Dies at 86". New York Times. Retrieved 18 April 2019.
  7. ^ "Hollywood intersection to be dedicated to late singer Sumac". Spectrum News. 22 September 2022. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
  8. ^ "Google doodle honors Peruvian soprano Yma Sumac on her birthday". Fox News. 13 September 2016. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
  9. ^ YMA SUMAC, la cantante peruana llamada «Princesa inca exótica»