Blades, Rubén, << blaydz, roo BEHN >> (1948-…), is a Panamanian singer, composer, actor, and politician. Blades is known for his particular style of salsa, a type of Latin dance music. His songs combine a lively dance rhythm with lyrics that tell meaningful stories. Blades’s most famous song is “Pedro Navaja” from the album Siembra (1978, with Willie Colón). The album became the best-selling salsa record in history. Blades has won a number of Grammy Awards for his music.
Rubén Blades Bellido de Luna was born on July 16, 1948, in Panama City, Panama. He had his first musical successes singing with the Willie Colón Orchestra in the 1970’s. Later, he formed his own band, Seis del Solar. Blades has law degrees from the University of Panama and Harvard Law School.
Blades began acting in 1982 in the motion picture The Last Fight (1983). His other notable films include Crossover Dreams (1985), The Milagro Beanfield War (1988), All the Pretty Horses (2000), Once Upon a Time in Mexico (2003), Safe House (2012), and The Counselor (2013). He has also acted on television and on the stage.
In 1994, Blades formed his own political party, Movimiento Papa Egoró (Mother Earth Movement), and ran for the presidency of Panama but was not elected. In 2004, he was appointed minister of tourism of Panama.
