Samy and Sandra Sandoval

If you are interested in getting a taste for Panamanian music, Samy and Sandra should be at the top of your listening list. Samy and Sandra, are a popular brother and sister musical duo from Chitré, in the province of Herrera. At the young age of 8 Samy began playing the accordion and his sister Sandra began singing. The siblings started preforming tipico (traditional Panamanian music) together when Samy was 11 and Sandra was 9. Over thirty years later, Samy and Sandra are still preforming together throughout Panama. Staying true to their roots they continue to play tipico and Panamanian-style cumbia.   Despite exceptional popularity through the country, the duo remains humble. We spoke with Sandra yesterday, July 16, 13, before she preformed for hundreds of fans at the minimalist venue, Cancha del Nance, in San Carlos.

Sandra was very kind, with only a couple minutes before the show she stopped to speak with us and take some photos. Her personality shone even brighter on stage.

Samy and Sandra have a great stage presence, and their music is highly energetic. If you are lucky enough to see them at a small local venue, get off your plastic lawn chair, take to the concrete dance floor and dance the night away drinking .75-cent beers.

To see the full photo gallery from Samy and Sandra in San Carlos visit us on facebook.