A self-styled renaissance man who has made a significant contribution to salsa with his socially conscious lyrics, Panamanian-born Ruben Blades has also enjoyed a successful career as a screen actor and, in his native country, founded the political party Papa Egora, running and placing third in the 1994 presidential election. After obtaining a law degree in Panama, he moved to the USA in 1974, staying temporarily with his exiled parents in Miami before moving to NYC where he was soon working with salseros Ray Barretto and Larry Harlow. A collaboration with trombonist and band leader Willie
Grew up in the working-class neighborhood of Carrasquilla in Panama City, Panama
1964
Student riot against US forces in the Canal Zone awakened his political sensibilities; 21 Panamanians were killed and another 500 wounded; from that point on, stopped singing in English
1966
Recorded first album with Los Salvajes del Ritmo (The Rhythm Savages)
1970
Recorded and released first album in New York, "De Panama a Nueva York"
