Yma Sumac - Nobody Knows The Trouble I've Seen (Live U.S. Tour, 1954)

Yma Sumac was a huge fan of Mahalia Jackson and Marian Anderson and undoubtedly she'd heard their versions of this song and decided to sing it in live performances "Yma Sumac style" (as she used to say). The song is haunting by its very origins, and has been recorded by many. Unfortunately, in Sumac's case, she came to understand the song only too well. She had an unhappy home life full of much betrayal a disappointment. She was often overworked and was paying everyone's free ride, with ingratitude as her only repayment. The irony is that the world loved and cherished her, but at home it was a different story. She was never comfortable divulging the details of her private life, not even to her siblings or parents. So "Nobody Knows" in this case, is quite powerful.
A Note:

Yma Sumac gave a tour in the deep south (in the United States) in the early 1950s. She was stunned to see the blatant segregation there, and when a theater owner refused to let black people into her concert, she was so angry she demanded a special impromptu aftershow just for them. The entire orchestra stayed on for that show. That incident had a big impact on her, so she didn't take the origins of this song lightly. The song was written in 1867, and the first recording of it 1916 by the Tuskgee Institute Singers.

Unlike her Capitol Records recordings, in live performances Yma Sumac sang in several languages. Many can be heard on the Diva's official website: www.yma-sumc.com/music

This particular recording and all images ©Damon Devine / Official Yma Sumac Archives.

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Видео Yma Sumac - Nobody Knows The Trouble I've Seen (Live U.S. Tour, 1954) канала Official Yma Sumac