Carlos 'Indio' Solari, Argentine Rock Icon, Dies at 77
Argentine singer-songwriter Carlos Alberto Solari, known affectionately as 'the Indio' and the charismatic frontman of Patricio Rey y sus Redonditos de Ricota, has passed away at 77. His death marks the end of an era for Argentine rock, leaving behin...
Carlos Alberto Solari performs during his presentation in La Colmena, Olavarria, Buenos Aires province, late at night on March 11, 2017. Luis Abdala/AFP via Getty Images
Carlos Alberto Solari, universally known as "the Indio", the enigmatic singer-songwriter who fronted Patricio Rey y sus Redonditos de Ricota—one of Argentina's most beloved and influential rock bands—has passed away at the age of 77 on Friday, June 5.
Solari, who bravely battled Parkinson's disease for over a decade, was discovered deceased near an indoor pool at his home in the provincial town of Ituzaingó, approximately 30 kilometers west of the Argentine capital, Buenos Aires. Authorities have not yet disclosed the official cause of death.
His family confirmed the somber news via social media, announcing plans for a public funeral to allow legions of fans to pay their final respects to the rock legend. Almost immediately, mourners began congregating outside his home, adorned with flowers and T-shirts bearing his iconic nickname. Downtown Buenos Aires saw a large plaza swell with crowds, united in grief, communing, singing his anthems, weeping, and finding solace in shared hugs among strangers.
"I said, no, mom, you can’t say that," recalled 19-year-old Eros Ruarte from the impromptu vigil. "I couldn’t believe it, that the Indio had died. He is the biggest idol in the world. I grew up listening to him; I heard his songs from my mom, my uncle." His words echoed the sentiments of a generation raised on Solari's profound influence.
As the charismatic voice of Patricio Rey y sus Redonditos de Ricota—affectionately known as Los Redondos—Solari emerged as a powerful countercultural icon. His music resonated deeply with disaffected Argentines navigating the tumultuous transition from a brutal military dictatorship to a nascent democracy in the 1980s, a period marked by both newfound freedoms and economic instability.
Throughout the 1990s, as Argentina embraced the consumerist fervor under then-President Carlos Saul Menem's free-market policies, Solari's classic rock anthems, vibrant dance tunes, and cryptic lyrics became a rallying cry. They articulated a spirit of rebellion against the perceived excesses of capitalism and encroaching foreign influences. Los Redondos famously released ten studio albums, steadfastly rejecting major record labels to safeguard their artistic independence.
Following the band's dissolution in 2001, Solari embarked on a successful solo career. He released five more albums under his own name, blending mainstream rock with electronic textures, consistently drawing hundreds of thousands of devoted fans to massive concerts across Argentina.
During a monumental concert in 2016, Solari bravely announced his diagnosis with Parkinson's disease, famously declaring, "Mr. Parkinson is nipping at my heels. But here I am." The declaration was met with a roaring ovation. He subsequently retired from touring, openly discussing the debilitating impact of the disease in various interviews.
Tributes rapidly poured in from across the nation, spanning politicians, fellow artists, and renowned soccer stars, all acknowledging his immense impact.
The Argentine Soccer Association eloquently stated that Solari's voice "became a popular rallying cry" and "echoed in the stands" of their passionately soccer-crazed country.
Even the Grandmothers of Plaza de Mayo, the revered activist group dedicated to finding those "disappeared" by the 1976-83 dictatorship, lauded Solari, noting that he "inspired society as a whole to doubt, to question and to think critically."
Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, Argentina's former president, currently serving a corruption sentence under house arrest, shared one of his most iconic and courageous lyrics on social media: "Just living costs you your life."
Solari is survived by his wife, Virginia Mones Ruiz, and their 25-year-old son, Bruno.
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