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Yma Sumac was a noted Peruvian soprano. In the 1950s, she was one of the most famous proponents of exotica music and became an international success, based on the merits of her extreme vocal range, which was said to be “well over four octaves” and was sometimes claimed to span even five octaves at her peak.

In one live recording of "Chuncho", she sings a range of over four and a half octaves, from B₂ to G♯₇. She was able to sing notes in the low baritone register as well as notes above the range of an ordinary soprano.

Whether that made Sumac a real-deal royal (or someone who could even claim indigenous identity) is unknown. She likely spoke some Quechua, one of the principal indigenous languages of the Andes, as did most people who then lived in the highlands. But she was a fair-skinned mestiza, a mix of Spanish and Indian.Mar 23, 2017

María Elena Moyano – (November 29, 1958 – February 15, 1992)

She became president of the women's movement at age 25 and helped to establish public kitchens, health committees, education, and Vasos de Leche, which provided children with milk.Mar 8, 2020