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[[Image:Ruben Blades.jpg|frame|right|Rubén Blades]] |
[[Image:Ruben Blades.jpg|frame|right|Rubén Blades]] |
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'''Rubén Blades''' (born [[July 16]], [[1948]]) is a [[Panama|Panamanian]] [[salsa (music)|salsa]] [[singer]], [[songwriter]], [[actor]] and politician. As songwriter, Blades brought the lyrical sophistication of [[South America]]n ''nueva canción'' and [[Cuba]]n ''nueva trova'' to salsa, creating ''thinking persons' dance music''. Although he only got 20% of the vote in his failed attempt to win the Panamanian presidency in 1994, he remains wildly popular in that country and much admired throughout [[Latin America]]. |
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Rubén Blades (born July 16, 1948) is a Panamanian salsa singer, songwriter, actor and politician. As songwriter, Blades brought the lyrical sophistication of South American nueva canción and Cuban nueva trova to salsa, creating thinking persons' dance music. Although he only got 2% of the vote in his failed attempt to win the Panamanian presidency in 1994, he remains wildly popular in that country and much admired throughout Latin America. |
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In September 2004, he was appointed minister of tourism by Panamanian president [[Martín Torrijos]]. |
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Blades is completely bilingual, working both in [[English language|English]] and [[Spanish language|Spanish]]. His most famous song is "Pedro Navaja", a song about a criminal whose day to die has come. |
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He was discovered by Willie Colón who took his lyrics to another level with his intuitive productions. Willie Colón nurtured Ruben Blades and made him a first class concert artist and recording star. |
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Blades's father is a [[percussionist]]-turned-[[detective]] and his mother was a singer and radio performer. |
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His grandfather, Reuben Blades, was a black worker from [[St Lucia]], and had come to Panama to build the [[Panama canal|canal]]. |
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Blades has won numerous grammy award and Colón has not won one to date but he did receive 11 nominations and the Adcademy's Lifetime Acheivement Award. |
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After obtaining degrees in political science and law at Panama's Universidad Nacional, Blades worked at the Bank of Panama as a lawyer. |
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In 1974, Blades moved to the [[United States]], staying temporarily with his exiled parents in [[Miami]] before moving to [[New York City]]. |
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Blades began his musical career in New York playing with local bands while working in the mailroom at [[Fania Records]], and soon was working with salseros [[Ray Barretto]] and [[Larry Harlow]]. |
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Shortly thereafter Blades started collaborating with [[trombonist]] and band leader [[Willie Colón]], and they recorded several albums together. |
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Their album ''Siembra'' (1978) became the best-selling salsa record in history. |
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Blades political career mimics Colón's, who after running for NYC Public Advocate in 2001, entered the Bloomberg Administration as Consultant for tourism. Three years later, Blades followed suit by seeking a similar position, on a smaller scale, in Panama. Since then Colón has become an important member of Michael Bloomberg's high command as Special Assistant and Liaison to the Mayor of the City of New York. |
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After 1980, Blades tried to terminate his contract with Fania, but he was contractually obligated to record several more albums. These are generally considered toss-offs and Blades himself told his fans to avoid them. When he was free of his contractual obligations, Blades signed with another label, Electra, and assembled a top-notch band (known variously as Seis Del Solar or Son Del Solar) and recorded a number of albums with them. |
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Some people say that after a concert in Puerto Rico in 2003, where a large sum of money that was in Blades'possesion disappeared, Blades retired to Panama as a "Minister" of Tourism so as not to have to pay Colón. It is rumored that he used this money to buy his present position. |
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In the early 1980s, Blades began his career in films as a composer of soundtracks. |
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In 1982, Blades got his first acting role in ''[[The Last Fight]]'' writing the title song as well as portraying a singer-turned-boxer vying for a championship against a fighter who was played by real life world champion boxer [[Salvador Sánchez]]. |
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In 1985, Blades gained widespread recognition as co-writer and star of the independent film ''Crossover Dreams'' as a New York salsa singer willing to do anything to break into the mainstream. This same year he earned a master's degree in international law from Harvard University. He was also the subject of Robert Mugge's documentary ''The Return of Ruben Blades'', which debuted at that year's Denver Film Festival. During the 1990s, he acted in films, got a doctorate in international law from [[Harvard University]], mounted his unsuccessful presidential bid, founding the party [[Movimiento Papa Egoró]], and continued to make salsa records. |
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His many film appearances include ''[[The Milagro Beanfield War]] '' (1988), ''The Two Jakes'' (1990), ''Mo' Better Blues'' (1990), and ''Devil's Own'' (1997). |
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In 1999, he played [[Mexico|Mexican]] artist [[Diego Rivera]] in [[Tim Robbins]]' ''Cradle Will Rock'' |
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In 1997, Blades headed the cast of singer/songwriter [[Paul Simon]]'s first [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]] [[musical]], ''[[The Capeman]]'', based on a true story about a violent youth who becomes a poet in prison. In the 2003 film ''[[Once Upon a Time in Mexico]]'', starring [[Johnny Depp]], [[Antonio Banderas]], and [[Willem Dafoe]], he played the role of a retired FBI agent. |
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Blades' 1999 album ''Tiempos'' which he made with the 12-piece [[Costa Rica]]n band Editus, represented a break from his salsa past and a rejection of commercial trends in [[Latin music]]. |
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Blades has stated in interviews that he believes his biggest mistake was releasing an English-language album in [[1988]] in the wake of his [[1987]] [[Grammy]] for ''Escenas'' — a trap he sees other Latin artists falling into. |
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Blades has had great success in the Anglophone movie world, but musically he has done well keeping close to his Latin roots. |
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{{TOCright}} |
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''' |
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== Discography == |
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''' |
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*''[[Bohemio y Poeta]] ([[1979]]) - Rubén Blades |
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*''[[Maestra Vida: Segunda Parte]] ([[1980]]) - Rubén Blades |
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*''[[Maestra Vida: Primera Parte]] ([[1980]]) - Rubén Blades |
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*''[[Buscando América]] ([[1984]]) - Rubén Blades & Seis del Solar |
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*''[[Mucho Mejor]] ([[1984]]) - Rubén Blades |
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*''[[Escenas]] ([[1985]]) - Rubén Blades y Seis de Solar |
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*''[[Agua de Luna]] ([[1986]]) - Rubén Blades y Seis del Solar |
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*''[[Antecedente]] ([[1988]]) - Rubén Blades |
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*''[[Nothing But the Truth]] ([[1988)]] - Rubén Blades |
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*''[[Caminando]] ([[1991]]) - Rubén Blades |
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*''[[Best of Ruben Blades]] ([[1992]]) - Rubén Blades |
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*''[[Amor Y Control]] ([[1992]]) - Rubén Blades/Son Del Solar |
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*''[[Que La Hace La Paga]] (1992) - Rubén Blades |
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*''[[Doble Filo]] ([[1992]]) - Rubén Blades |
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*''[[Ruben Blades with Strings]] ([[1992]]) - Rubén Blades |
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*''[[Poetry: The Greatest Hits]] ([[1993]]) - Rubén Blades |
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*''[[Joseph & His Brothers]] ([[1993]]) - Rubén Blades & Strunz & Farah |
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*''[[Poeta Latino]] ([[1993]]) - Rubén Blades |
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*''[[Mucho Mejor]] [Westwind] ([[1995]]) - Rubén Blades |
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*''[[Rosa de Los Vientos]] ([[1996]]) - Rubén Blades |
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*''[[Greatest Hits]] ([[1996]]) - Rubén Blades y Seis del Solar |
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*''[[Sus Más Grandes Exitos]] ([[1998]]) - Rubén Blades |
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*''[[Tiempos]] ([[1999]]) - Rubén Blades |
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*''[[From Panama to New York]] ([[2000]]) - Rubén Blades & la Orquesta de Pete Rodriguez |
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*''[[Sembra Y Otros Favoritos Salsa Para Siempre]] ([[2001]]) - Rubén Blades & Willie Colon |
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*''[[Best]] ([[2001]]) - Rubén Blades |
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*''[[Salsa Caliente De Nu York]] ([[2002]]) - Rubén Blades |
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*''[[Mundo]] ([[2002]]) - Rubén Blades |
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*''[[Una Decada]] ([[2003]]) - Rubén Blades |
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*''[[Experencia Ruben Blades]] ([[2004]]) - Rubén Blades |
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*''[[O Melhor, Vol. 1]] ([[2004]]) - Rubén Blades |
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*''[[O Melhor, Vol. 2]] ([[2004]]) - Rubén Blades |
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''' |
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== Filmography == |
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''' |
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*''[[Secuestro express]] ([[2004]]) - Carla's Father |
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*''[[Spin]] ([[2003]]) - Ernesto Bejarano |
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*''[[Imagining Argentina]] ([[2003]]) - Silvio Ayala |
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*''[[Once Upon a Time in Mexico]] ([[2003]]) - Jorge FBI |
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*''[[The Maldonado Miracle]] ([[2003]]) (TV) - Cruz |
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*''[[Assassination Tango]] ([[2002]]) - Miguel |
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*''[[All the Pretty Horses]] ([[2000]]) - Hector de la Rocha |
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*''[[Gideon's Crossing]] ([[2000]]) TV Series - Dr. Max Cabranes |
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*''[[Cradle Will Rock]] ([[1999]]) - Diego Rivera |
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*''[[Chinese Box]] ([[1997]]) - Jim |
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*''[[The Devil's Own]] ([[1997]]) - Edwin Diaz |
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*''[[Scorpion Spring]] ([[1996]]) - Border Patrolman Sam Zaragosa |
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*''[[Color of Night]] ([[1994]]) - Lt. Hector Martinez |
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*''[[A Million to Juan]] ([[1994]]) - Bartender |
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*''[[Life with Mikey]] ([[1993]]) (uncredited) - Angie's Dad |
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*''[[Miracle on Interstate 880]] ([[1993]]) (TV) - Pastor Beruman |
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*''[[The Super]] ([[1991]]) - Marlon |
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*''[[Crazy from the Heart]] ([[1991]]) (TV) - Ernesto Ontiveros |
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*''[[One Man's War]] ([[1991]]) (TV) - Perrone |
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*''[[The Josephine Baker Story]] ([[1991]]) (TV) - Count Giuseppe Pepito Abatino |
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*''[[Predator 2]] ([[1990]]) (as Ruben Blades) - Danny Archuleta |
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*''[[The Lemon Sisters]] ([[1990]]) - C.W |
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*''[[The Two Jakes]] ([[1990]]) - Mickey Nice aka Michael Weisskoph |
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*''[[Mo' Better Blues]] ([[1990]]) - Petey |
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*''[[Heart of the Deal]] ([[1990]]) |
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*''[[Disorganized Crime]] ([[1989]]) - Carlos Barrios |
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*''[[Dead Man Out]] ([[1989]]) (TV) - Ben |
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*''[[Homeboy]] ([[1988]]) - Doctor |
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*''[[The Milagro Beanfield War]] ([[1988]]) - Sheriff Bernabe Montoya |
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*''[[Fatal Beauty]] ([[1987]]) - Carl Jimenez |
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*''[[Critical Condition]] ([[1987]]) - Louis |
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*''[[Crossover Dreams]] ([[985]]) - Rudy Veloz |
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*''[[The Last Fight]] ([[1983]]) - Andy 'Kid' Clave |
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==External links== |
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* [http://www.rubenblades.com/ Rubén Blades' website] (in Spanish) |
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* [http://www.warr.org/colonblades.html Blades/Colón discography and reviews] |
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* [http://us.imdb.com/name/nm0001952/ IMDB filmography] |
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[[Category:1948 births|Blades, Rubén]] |
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[[Category:Male singers|Blades]] |
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[[Category:Panamanian musicians|Blades]] |
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[[Category:Salsa musicians|Blades]] |
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[[Category:Songwriters|Blades]] |
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[[Category:Panamanian people|Rubén Blades]] |
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[[de:Rubén Blades]] |
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[[es:Rubén Blades]] |
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[[fr:Rubén Blades]] |
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Revision as of 22:38, 26 January 2006
Rubén Blades (born July 16, 1948) is a Panamanian salsa singer, songwriter, actor and politician. As songwriter, Blades brought the lyrical sophistication of South American nueva canción and Cuban nueva trova to salsa, creating thinking persons' dance music. Although he only got 2% of the vote in his failed attempt to win the Panamanian presidency in 1994, he remains wildly popular in that country and much admired throughout Latin America.
He was discovered by Willie Colón who took his lyrics to another level with his intuitive productions. Willie Colón nurtured Ruben Blades and made him a first class concert artist and recording star.
Blades has won numerous grammy award and Colón has not won one to date but he did receive 11 nominations and the Adcademy's Lifetime Acheivement Award.
Blades political career mimics Colón's, who after running for NYC Public Advocate in 2001, entered the Bloomberg Administration as Consultant for tourism. Three years later, Blades followed suit by seeking a similar position, on a smaller scale, in Panama. Since then Colón has become an important member of Michael Bloomberg's high command as Special Assistant and Liaison to the Mayor of the City of New York.
Some people say that after a concert in Puerto Rico in 2003, where a large sum of money that was in Blades'possesion disappeared, Blades retired to Panama as a "Minister" of Tourism so as not to have to pay Colón. It is rumored that he used this money to buy his present position.