Rubén Blades
Biography
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. 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" (Fatherland). 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 for a five-year term. He holds a law degree from the University of Panama and a master's in international law from Harvard University. He is married to singer Luba Mason. Description above from the Wikipedia article Rubén Blades, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
Personal Details
Also Known As
Movies (44)
Salsa Lives
as Ruben Blades
2025
Stevie Van Zandt: Disciple
as Self
2024
Stay Homas. The Band That Shouldn’t Exist
as Self - Singer
2024
Nueva York: A Musical History of Latin New York
as Self (archive footage)
2021
Red Pill
as Rocky
2021
Operation Just Cause
Music (Sound)
2019
Raúl Juliá: The World’s a Stage
as Self
2019
John Leguizamo's Latin History for Morons
as Self
2018
Ruben Blades Is Not My Name
as Self
2018
Hands of Stone
as Carlos Eleta
2016
Yo soy la salsa
2014
Invasion
as Self
2014
The Counselor
as Jefe
2013
Outlaws - For Greater Glory
as Président Calles
2012
Safe House
as Carlos Villar
2012
¡Sonó, Sonó… Tite Curet!
2011
The Next Season
as Benito
2011
Rubén Blades: Todos Vuelven Live, Vol. 2
2011
Rubén Blades: Todos Vuelven Live, Vol. 1
2011
Spoken Word
as Cruz-Sr.
2009
La clave
2008
Lo mejor de nuestra música popular: 15 años de éxitos
as Self
2007
The Hunters and the Hunted: The Making of 'Predator 2'
as Self (archive footage)
2005
En mi país
as Self
2004
Secuestro Express
as Carla's Father
2004
Spin
as Ernesto
2003
Imagining Argentina
as Silvio Ayala
2003
Once Upon a Time in Mexico
as Jorge, Retired FBI Agent
2003
Assassination Tango
as Miguel
2003
The Maldonado Miracle
as Cruz
2003
Encuentro
2002
Empire
Original Music Composer (Sound)
2002
All the Pretty Horses
as Rocha
2000
Cradle Will Rock
as Diego Rivera
1999
Willie Colón & Rubén Blades - Live In Venezuela
as Rubén Blades
1998
A Roll of the Dice: The Capeman on Broadway
1998
Chinese Box
as Jim
1997
From Son to Salsa
1997
The Devil's Own
as Edwin Diaz
1997
Al compás de un sentimiento: la música de Pedro Flores
1996
Scorpion Spring
as Border Patrolman Sam Zaragosa
1996
Somos un solo pueblo
as Self
1995
Color of Night
as Hector
1994
A Million to Juan
as Bartender
1994
