Solinka de Panamá

Solange Arias was a public servant in the 1950s, working as a secretary in the Ministry of Education in Panamá. She had a fine voice and was a very attractive woman, so a Cuban agent convinced her to become a professional "salsa" singer. In those years, males dominated the salsa genre, so Solange did not have success in the beginning. Her agent decided to send her abroad, to Ecuador and Perú in South America to try her luck. It was in Perú where she became a sensation as a salsa entertainer. An enthusiastic journalist wrote that her performance was as bright as a "sol inca" (Inca sun), a moniker that she adopted as her artistic name, changing the c for a k, and adding "de Panamá". She married in Perú, and upon her return to Panamá, Solinka finally found success in her native country. She signed a contract with a recording company, traveled extensively and won first prize in the Valparaíso international song festival. After her husband's death, Solinka retired and created a foundation for the protection of animals, but she still performs in special occasions.