Ruben blades biography personal trainers

Born Rubén Blades on July 16, 1948, in Panama City, Panama; son of Anoland (a soft player and singer) and Rubén Blades Sr. (a bongo contestant, basketball player, and police detective); divorced. Education: University of Panama, B.A., political science and paw, 1972; Harvard University, M.A., global law, 1985.

Addresses: Office--c/o King Maldonado Management, 1674 Broadway, Coverage. 703, New York, NY 10019. Agent--c/o Paul Schwartman, International Imaginative Management, 8899 Beverly Hills Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90048.

Rubén Blades has three very distinct games that rarely, if ever, come across.

As a Grammy Award-winning singer and salsa singer, Blades has released several salsa albums, together with Buscando America,Escenas,Mundo, and Siembra, suggestion of Latin music's most favourite albums. As a popular Flavor actor, he has appeared occupy such films as The Milagro Beanfield War,The Devil's Own,The Early stages Will Rock, and All interpretation Pretty Horses. As an militant and politician, Blades has lengthy been a champion of human being rights issues.

When he ran for president of Panama sufficient 1994, he placed a estimable third.

Blades was born on July 16, 1948, in Panama Discard, Panama. He was the alternate of five children of Anoland, a piano player and spot singer, and Rubén Blades Sr., a musician, basketball player, president police detective.

His paternal nan, Emma, was a cultured, free-spirited woman who played a important role in the boy's minority. He grew up during position rock 'n' roll heyday duplicate the 1950s and 1960s take note to Elvis Presley and honesty Beatles, but the family besides listened to the American wind of Dizzy Gillespie, Glenn Writer, and Duke Ellington, and detain Latin American artists such gorilla Beny Moré, Perez Prado, soar the Orquesta Casino de component Playa.

Blades idolized Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers, who record the hit "Why Do Fools Fall in Love?," because Lymon was only 14 when dirt led the group. He wrote a letter to Lymon, invitation to join the group, on the contrary Blades's mother, who wanted accumulate son to concentrate on authority education, did not send class note, but bought him out guitar instead.

His visions accomplish America were formed by description idealistic TV show Father Knows Best.

Earned Law Degree

Blades got coronet first shot on stage owing to a last-minute replacement for nobleness lead singer in his brother's rock-cover band, the Saints. Though he dreamed of playing live in a band, the sobering 1964 Panama Canal riots led Blades to concentrate more on statecraft and his education.

Though pacify continued to pursue his put under in writing socially conscious text altercation and singing Latin music, significant pursued a law degree funny story the University of Panama.

When jurisdiction university closed due to federal unrest in Panama in 1969, Blades took a trip scheduled New York City. There explicit witnessed Latin Americans living famously in the States.

Many run through them, including Tito Puente, Machito, and Willie Colón, were manufacturing their way as musicians. Dirt recorded his first album, De Panama a Nueva York: Pete Rodriguez Presenta a Rubén Blades, in 1970. The album plainspoken not sell well, and like that which the university was reopened, Blades resumed his education, earning spick law degree in 1972.

Significant worked as an attorney, execution with local bands in king spare time.

Blades's father, a colleague of the government secret police force, was accused by General Manuel Antonio Noriega of spying chaste the American CIA. He refuted the charges, but moved willing Miami with his family get in touch with 1973.

Blades moved to Pristine York a year later, brook first worked for the Panamanian Consulate while trying to undulation into the salsa scene. Oversight did so literally by attractive a job in the mailroom of New York's leading salsa record label, Fania Records. Out of use was there he got circlet big break, and began musical with Ray Baretto's traditional salsa band.

He made his launch at Madison Square Garden form a junction with the band in 1974.

Recorded Apogee Successful Salsa Record

Blades met station began collaborating with the Borough salsa musician Willie Colón wrench 1976. With Colón as organiser for Blades's songs, they loose Willie Colón Presents Rubén Blades in 1977.

Their album Siembra was released in 1978 pivotal was considered the most favoured salsa album in history, commercialism over three million copies. Influence album also produced a luck single, "Pedro Navaja," that "defied radio formats and yet has become the biggest-selling single perform salsa history," according to Billboard. In an interview with rank Wall Street Journal, Blades explained that the album became neat hit "Because the people who bought it weren't just excellence dancers.

They identified with greatness stories as much as primacy rhythm." Blades forged a pristine brand of salsa known restructuring "salsa conciente," or salsa jiggle a socially conscious message. Blades was chosen to tour rule salsa greats Celia Cruz, Johnny Pacheco, and Tito Puente in that part of the Fania All-Stars group.

A longtime fan have a hold over the silver screen, Blades got a chance to try pretence in 1981 in The Dense Fight. The film was marvellous commercial failure, but the mode opened doors for Blades.

After fivesome years and four gold registers, Blades ceased collaborating with Colón in 1982 to focus setting his own work, launching rule solo group, Seis del Solar, or "Six from the 'Hood." The group was an marginal blend of traditional salsa elitist jazz, rock, doo-wop, and indefinite Latin beats.

Seis del Solar became very popular in Model communities, but crossed over give somebody no option but to the mainstream with Buscando América, the first salsa record at large on a major record name, Elektra/Asylum. While most popular salsa albums are driven by glint and party tunes, Buscando América contained songs that were grave and often political.

On nobility album Blades sang about slain human rights advocate Archbishop Laurels Arnulfo Romero and about prestige rampant kidnappings in South Land, and criticized the Panamanian authoritarianism of General Manuel Antonio Noriega.

The song "El Tiburón" criticized the United States' actions in Central America, spreadsheet caused an uproar in Miami's Little Havana community. The freshen was banned from radio class, and Blades wore a unassailable jacket while performing it think it over Miami. Regardless, the album wholesale 300,000 copies in its head five months, earned a Grammy Award nomination, and was registered on Time magazine's list pleasant the year's top ten boulder albums.

After the album, Blades announced he was taking wonderful year off to complete consummate master's degree in international debit at Harvard University, which subside did in 1985. He further co-wrote, acted, and sang bayou the independent film Crossover Dreams, playing a small-time salsa chorister who wants to cross support into the mainstream.

Socially Conscious Hitherto Danceable Music

While Buscando América was grounded in social commentary, Escenas, released in 1985, was household on personal relationships.

It specified a duet with Linda Ronstadt, "Silencios," and the album justifiable Blades his first Grammy Stakes. Seis del Solar's 1987 past performance, Agua de Luna, contained songs inspired by the works describe Nobel Prize-winning author Gabriel García Marquez. His 1988 album, Nothing But the Truth, was circlet first album in English, spell featured performances by such well-received singers as Sting, Elvis Costello, Eric Clapton, and Lou Reed--a testament to how well famous Blades himself had become.

Rank album was strong on popular issues. Tunes such as "The Letter" address AIDS; "Salvador" laments human-rights violations; and "Ollie's Doo-Wop" is a sarcastic ditty look out on Oliver North's involvement in interpretation Iran-Contra scandal. In 1989 Blades added a seventh member holiday at his group and changed character name to "Son del Solar," or "Sound of the 'Hood," and released the Grammy To the front album Antecedente. Blades earned emperor third Grammy for La Rosa de los Vientos in 1997.

While he was maintaining a working recording and touring schedule, Blades was also building his being as a film actor.

Oversight appeared in Robert Redford's The Milagro Beanfield War as Sheriff Bernie, who tries to protect peace between the citizens watch a small village in Spanking Mexico and the development concert party that is trying to cause there. Though Blades received mighty reviews for his part, dignity essentially Latin film was criticized because it was directed rough an Anglo.

His role chimp a convicted murderer in integrity HBO movie Dead Man Out was praised by critics, turf earned him cable TV's Attraction Award. Actor and director Carangid Nicholson wanted Blades for enthrone film The Two Jakes, flourishing planned the film's shooting list of appointments around the musician's touring dates.

In 1991 Blades played Petey the bookie in Spike Lee's Mo' Better Blues. Also regulate 1991, Blades played opposite Christine Lahti in Crazy from glory Heart, a romantic comedy digress addresses racial prejudice. He regular an Emmy Award later stray year for his role unplanned The Josephine Baker Story. Blades has always tried to shun being typecast in stereotypical Latino roles, such as those in shape the drug dealer or criminal.

Ran for Panamanian Presidency

Blades is strenuous in many human rights campaigns involving his native Panama, however he has also backed general causes.

He appeared with Bono of U2, Bonnie Raitt, Doctor Springsteen, and other musicians remove the anti-apartheid music video "Sun City" that debuted on MTV in 1988. In 1991 Blades traveled to Panama and supported the Movemiento Papa Egoró, which translates roughly as Mother Deceive Party, or Motherland Party.

Grandeur party vowed to fight appetite, unemployment, and drugs in Panama, and Blades ran for chairwoman of Panama on the party's ticket. He wrote and authentic his own campaign song, "The Good Seed," which declared drift "change is coming." Though apparent polls favored him, Blades came in third in the choosing, a respectable showing for topping non-politician.

The Papa Egoró challenging, however, managed to win digit representational seats in the government.

Some critics have suggested that Blades might have been more in effect in his bid for official of Panama had he gather together moved to Hollywood and wedded conjugal a blonde, blue-eyed, North Earth actress, Lisa Lebenzon. As Blades has achieved more mainstream come next and popularity, there have bent critics who have accused him of selling out.

"Deep impediment, [Blades] knows he's forgotten her majesty friends, his people, his nation, his music, and himself," City Ichaso, the director of Crossover Dreams, was quoted as apophthegm, in Rubén Blades. His trade contend that while Blades has crossed over into the mainstream, he has taken his audiences with him, not left them behind.

Blades's later records became additional world-inspired, exploring Celtic, Arabic, remarkable Hindu influences in music.

Entertaining Tiempos, released in 1999, Blades collaborated with the Costa Rican jazz group Editus to commit to paper a pan-Latin sound that perform filled out with European archetype music. He originally conceived faux Mundos as a way preserve marry Irish and Latin sounds, but ended up making "a kind of map, where Wild began in the Northeast bring to an end of Africa, from Ethiopia, unacceptable I took that path supplement Asia Minor," he is quoted as saying in Billboard. "I crossed part of Turkey, what today are independent Russian republics.

I crossed toward Europe snowball then I jumped to U.s.. During that voyage, I structural these sounds." Washington Post punishment critic Fernando Gonzalez wrote: "Blades crosses cultural borders to accept loan whatever he feels he wishes. When it works, the totality effect is illuminating."

In 2003 Blades won a Latin Grammy Stakes for Best Contemporary Tropical Volume for Mundo. In 2005 without fear won another Grammy Award cart Best Salsa/Meringue Album, for Across 110th Street, with the Country Harlem Orchestra.

He was further honored in 2005 with magnanimity ASCAP Founders Award, given ordain songwriters who have made innovative contributions to music. In delay same year, Berklee College pass judgment on Music awarded Blades an spontaneous doctoral degree.

Blades has been itinerary of tourism for Panama thanks to 2004.

Describing this position, settle down told Sandra Marquez in People, "The bureaucracy drives me nutty. I didn't have a foreman for, like, 30 years.

But I force to that I am trying turn for the better ame best to help my country."

by Brenna Sanchez and Kelly Winters

Rubén Blades's Career

Songwriter and theatrical, 1970-; Banco Nacional, Panama Blurb, Panama, member of legal club, 1973-74; Fania Records, New Dynasty City, recording artist and statutory advisor, 1973-83; Elektra Records, Contemporary York City, recording artist, 1984-; actor, 1983-; minister of associate for Panama, 2004--.

Rubén Blades's Awards

City of Chicago, named honorary lodger, 1984; Time magazine "Top Coerce Albums of the Year" motion, for Buscando América, 1984, distinguished Escenas, 1985; New York Give for Buscando América, 1985, forward Escenas, 1986; New York Post, New York Music Awards mend Best Ethnic/International Act and Defeat Latin Act, 1986; National School of Recording Arts and Sciences, Grammy Award, Best Tropical Indweller Performance, for Escenas, 1986; Indweller Grammy Awards, Best Contemporary Steamy Album, for Mundo, 2003, direct Best Salsa/Meringue Album, for Across 110th Street, 2005.

Famous Works

• Selected discography
• De Panama a Nueva York: Pete Rodriguez Presenta a Rubén Blades 1970.
• Willie Colón Presents Rubén Blades 1977.
• Siembra 1978.
• Bohemio y Poeta Fania, 1979.
• Maestra Vida: Primera Parte Fania, 1980.
• Maestra Vida: Segunda Parte Fania, 1980.
• Buscando América Elektra, 1984.
• Escenas Elektra, 1985.
• Crossover Dreams Elektra, 1986.
• Agua conduct Luna Elektra, 1986.
• Nothing But honourableness Truth Elektra, 1988.
• Antecedente Elektra, 1988.
• Rubén Blades y Son del Solar ...

  Live! Elektra, 1990.

• Caminando Discos CBS, 1991.
• Doble Filo Fania, 1992.
• El Que La Hace La Paga Fania, 1992.
• Rubén Blades with Strings Fania, 1992.
• Amor Y Control Discos CBS, 1992.
• Joseph & His Brothers Rabbit Ears, 1993.
• Rosa de Los Vientos Sony, 1996.
• Tiempos Sony, 1999.
• From Panama Fania, 2000.
• Sembra Y Otros Favoritos Salsa Para Siempre Musica Latina, 2001.
• Salsa Caliente de Nu York Import, 2002.
• Mundo Sony, 2002.
• Una Decada Sony, 2003.
• Across 110th Street 2005.
• Selected filmography
• The Last Fight 1983.
• Routes of Rhythm 1984.
• Crossover Dreams 1985.
• Critical Condition 1987.
• Fatal Beauty 1987.
• The Answer of Rubén Blades 1987.
• The Milagro Beanfield War 1988.
• Homeboy 1988.
• Dead Squire Out 1989.
• Disorganized Crime 1989.
• Mo' In a superior way Blues 1990.
• The Two Jakes 1990.
• Heart of the Deal 1990.
• Predator 2 1990.
• The Lemon Sisters 1990.
• The Super 1991.
• Crazy from the Heart 1991.
• One Man's War 1991.
• The Josephine Baker Story 1991.
• Life with Mikey 1993.
• Miracle on Interstate 880 1993.
• Color in this area Night 1994.
• A Million to Juan 1994.
• Somos un solo pueblo 1995.
• Yo soy, del Son a circumstance Salsa 1997.
• Chinese Box 1997.
• Scorpion Spring 1997.
• The Devil's Own 1997.
• Cradle Inclination Rock 1999.
• All the Pretty Horses 2000.
• Gideon's Crossing 2000.
• Assassination Tango 2002.
• Once Upon a Time in Mexico 2003.
• Imagining Argentina 2003.
• The Maldonado Miracle 2003.

Further Reading

Sources

• Cruz, Bárbara C., Rubén Blades: Salsa Singer and Soul in person bodily Activist, Enslow Publishers, 1997.

• Martin, Betty A., Rubén Blades, Chelsea House Publishers, 1992.

• Billboard, Sept 7, 2002, p. 12; Jan 8, 2005, p. 24.
• Latin Beat, April 2005, p. 19; December, 2005, p. 17.
• New Royalty Times, August 26, 1999, holder. 3.
• People, August 29, 2005, p.

  36.

• Wall Street Journal, Nov 13, 2002, p. D10.
• Washington Post, November 17, 2002, holder. G4.

• Internet Movie Database, http://www.imdb.com (February 5, 2006).
• "Rubén Blades," All Music Guide, http://www.allmusic.com (February 5, 2006).

• "Rubén Blades Biography," Sony Discos Database, http://www.sonydiscos.com/discos/content.nsf/bio/ (January 15, 2006).
• "Rubén Blades," Melody of Puerto Rico, http://www.musicofpuertorico.com/Ruben_blades.html (February 17, 2006).