
"Luciano Pavarotti, the Italian singer whose ringing, pristine sound set a standard for operatic tenors of the postwar era, died Thursday at his home near Modena, in northern Italy. He was 71." (nytimes.com) Luciano Pavarotti -- Non ti scordar di me Preceded by: Enrico Caruso -- PagliacciVesti La Giubba Also check out: (Two of my favorites) Yma Sumac - Cha Cha Gitano Maria Callas -- Deh! torna mio bene (Proch Variations) (The [...]

Peruvian exotica diva, Yma Sumac, was a phenomenon in the music world during the early 1950's. With an amazing vocal range of four octaves, this attractive, mysterious woman with a voluptuous figure catapulted onto the American music scene with a 10" album "Voice Of Xtabay" that topped the US charts in 1950. Everything surrounding Yma Sumac had an air of mystery about it, she was said to have been born in a tiny village in the Peruvian high Andes and was a descendant of the Inca Kings and her exotic repertoire was said to be based on Inca legends. [...]

What would fit the holiday season better than a compilation featuring blind whistlers, zombie calypso, and elk calling instructions? You don't care about any old elk caller, you say? We don't either, but this one is Glenn Mittelsteadt, World's Greatest Elk Caller! And apart from that you'll hear (and learn to play) bongos, theremin, and a singing saw. Now without further ado, here is Phonoanomalies for Hi-Fi Bugs , originally compiled for the ExoticaRing by Keith Lo Bue . My personal favorites apart from the elk calling are the incredible performances by the Eloise Trio (tracks [...]