This year, the name Mimy Succar was written in gold letters at the GRAMMYs as she took home the award for Best Tropical Latin Album with the record "Alma, corazón y salsa." The album is a live recording of her performance at the Gran Teatro Nacional del Perú, where she performed with her son Tony Succar and 35 musicians and special guests. Mimy and Tony became the first Peruvians to win a GRAMMY, a historic and emotional instance for the family and for a woman who's loved music her entire life.
Born on September 21, 1959, in the district of Pueblo Libre in the province of Lima, Miriam Tayrako Sakaguchi comes from a family with Japanese roots. She spent her early years in the Peruvian-Japanese neighborhood of Lurigancho-Chosica, where she began showing interest in music from a young age.
© Getty Images for The Recording AUpon reaching adulthood, she began competing in beauty pageants and quickly distinguished herself in the local Miss Nikkei Peru competition, where she secured first place. This victory granted her a direct entry into her first international competition, Miss Nikkei in Brazil. There, she won the titles of Miss Congeniality and Best Typical Costume.
During that period, Mimy fell in love with Antonio Succar, a Peruvian pianist and navy officer of Lebanese descent. They married in the late 1980s and soon decided to relocate to Miami. As they began a new life together, Mimy chose to stay home to care for their children while Antonio began playing the piano in restaurants and bars.
"My husband always knocked on doors, always had hope, but the opportunity never came. I told him: 'Patience, someday it will happen.'"
© Los Angeles Times via Getty ImagShortly after, the couple founded the duo Mistura, gaining fans among the Latin community in Miami. They performed for many years at the Peruvian-Japanese Club. With three children, the couple continued to rely on music as their primary source of income.
Tony, their eldest son, followed in his parents' footsteps, studying music at Florida International University, acquiring a Bachelor's in Jazz Performance and, later on, a Master's Degree in music. Thanks to his parents' experience and support, Tony had the best advice an aspiring musician could have at the start of his career.
In 2019, he recorded his first album, "Más de mí," which won him two Latin Grammys—one for Best Salsa Album and another as Producer of the Year. Through his career, he's worked with artists like La India, Tito Nieves, Jon Secada, Obie Bermudez, and more.
In 2021, Mimy was invited to the show "La Voz Senior" to surprise her son Tony, who was one of the coaches on the program. Tony immediately picked his mother after hearing her sing, surprised when he turned and saw that she was the one performing. The pair released their first album together, "Mimy & Tony," in 2023, establishing themselves as Peru's leading salsa artists.
"On the show, he realized I have a special voice."
© Getty ImagesThe following year, Tony returned his mother's surprise, announcing her nomination live on air. Mimy took home two important awards: Best Tropical Latin Album and a recognition for the live recorded record "Alma, corazón y salsa," all achieved at the age of 65.
Since, Mimy and Tony have continued to collaborate on various music projects. We can expect nothing more than growth and success from this talented family.
