Rubén Blades

Rubén Blades Bellido de Luna (born July 16, 1948) is a Panamanian salsa singer, songwriter, lawyer, actor, Latin jazz musician, and politician, performing musically most often in the Afro-Cuban and Latin jazz genres. As songwriter, Blades brought the lyrical sophistication of Central American nueva canción and Cuban nueva trova as well as experimental tempos and political inspired Nuyorican salsa to his music, creating thinking persons' (salsa) dance music.

Blades has composed dozens of musical hits, the most famous of which is "Pedro Navaja," a song about a neighborhood thug who appears to die during a robbery (his song "Sorpresas" continues the story), inspired by "Mack the Knife." He also composed and sings what many Panamanians consider their second national anthem. The song is titled "Patria" (Motherland). He is an icon in Panama and is much admired throughout Latin America, and managed to attract 18% of the vote in his failed attempt to win the Panamanian presidency in 1994. In September 2004, he was appointed minister of tourism by Panamanian president Martín Torrijos. He holds law degrees from the University of Panama and Harvard Law School.

Discography

* A Las Seis - con Los Salvajes Del Ritmo - Panamanian conjunto banda
* From Panama to New York (1970) - Rubén Blades & la Orquesta de Pete Rodriguez
* Barretto - with Ray Barretto orchestra (1975)
* La Raza Latina - Salsa Suite with Larry Harlow and his orchestra Harlow (1977)
* Fania All Stars Tribute To Tito Rodríguez (1976)
* Metiendo Mano (1977) - Rubén Blades & Willie Colón
* Fania All Stars Spanish Fever (1978)
* Siembra (1978) - Rubén Blades & Willie Colón
* Fania All Stars Crossover (1979)
* Bohemio y Poeta (1979) - Rubén Blades (Fania compilation)
* Maestra Vida: Primera Parte (1980) - Rubén Blades (produced by Willie Colon)
* Maestra Vida: Segunda Parte (1980) - Rubén Blades (produced by Willie Colon)
* Fania All Stars Commitment (1980)
* Canciones Del Solar De Los Aburridos (1981) - Rubén Blades & Willie Colón
* The Last Fight (1982) - Rubén Blades & Willie Colon
* El Que La Hace La Paga (1983) - Rubén Blades
* Buscando América (1984) - Rubén Blades & Seis del Solar
* Mucho Mejor (1984) - Rubén Blades
* Crossover Dreams (1985) soundtrack
* Escenas (1985) - Rubén Blades y Seis de Solar
* Doble Filo (1986) - Rubén Blades
* Agua de Luna (1987) - Rubén Blades y Seis del Solar
* Antecedente (1988) - Rubén Blades
* Nothing But the Truth (1988) - Rubén Blades
* With Strings (1988) Rubén Blades
* Live! (1990) Rubén Blades y Son del Solar
* Caminando (1991) - Rubén Blades y Son del Solar
* Best of Ruben Blades (1992) - Rubén Blades (Fania compilation)
* Amor Y Control (1992) - Rubén Blades y Son Del Solar
* Poetry: The Greatest Hits (1993) - Rubén Blades (Fania compilation)
* Poeta Latina (1993) - Rubén Blades (UK Fania compilation)
* Mucho Mejor [Westwind] (1995) - Rubén Blades
* Tras La Tormenta (1995]]) Rubén Blades & Willie Colon
* La Rosa de Los Vientos (1996) - Rubén Blades
* Greatest Hits (Rubén Blades album) (1996) - Rubén Blades y Seis del Solar (Elektra compilation)
* Sus Más Grandes Exitos (1998) - Rubén Blades ( Fania compilation)
* Tiempos (1999) - Rubén Blades y Editus
* Sembra Y Otros Favoritos Salsa Para Siempre (2001) - Rubén Blades & Willie Colon (Fania compilation)
* Best (2001) - Rubén Blades (Fania compilation)
* Salsa Caliente De Nu York (2002) - Rubén Blades (Fania compilation)
* Mundo (2002) - Rubén Blades y Editus Ensemble
* rubenblades.com/cd (2003) Rubén Blades etc (download project)
* Una Decada (2003) - Rubén Blades (Sony compilation)
* Experencia Ruben Blades (2004) - Rubén Blades (Fania compilation)
* Lo Mejor, Vol. 1 (2004) - Rubén Blades (Fania compilation, import as O Melhor Vol. 1)
* Lo Mejor, Vol. 2 (2004) - Rubén Blades (Fania compilation, import as O Melhor Vol. 2)
* Across 110th St. (2004) - Spanish Harlem Orchestra featuring Rubén Blades
* Maestro de la Fania (2005) - Rubén Blades (Fania compilation)