Dolores Salinas was born in 1933 in San Basilio de Palenque, in the Colombian department of Bolívar.[1]
Salinas was a singer with the group Las Alegres Ambulancias, led by Graciela Salgado, who sang at funerals in San Basilio de Palenque as a part of the traditional practice of lumbalú [es].[1] Salinas named the group, and usually sang backing vocals.[2] Salinas also sang with Salgado and Cristobalina Estrada in a group called Las Tres Mujeres, and they appeared on the album Los Colores de la Tierra, which was produced by the Caja Agraria and the Colombian Ministry of Culture.[1]
Las Alegres Ambulancias had a hit with "La Maldita Vieja", which Salinas wrote about a confrontation she had with a neighbour who was flirting with her husband; the song was also covered by La Mojarra Eléctrica [es], Faraón Bantú, and various bullerengue groups from the Colombian Caribbean.[1][3] Eventually the title of the song also became a nickname for Salinas.[1]
Salinas died aged 78 on 11 May 2011 in Cartagena.[4] Graciela Salgado sang at her wake, and Petrona Martínez attended.[4]