Rubén Blades
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.
Acting
TV
Fear the Walking Dead
as Daniel Salazar
2015
Movie
Safe House
as Carlos Villar
2012
Movie
Predator 2
as Danny Archuleta
1990
TV
The X-Files
as Conrad Lozano
1993
Movie
Once Upon a Time in Mexico
as Jorge, Retired FBI Agent
2003
Movie
The Counselor
as Jefe
2013
Movie
The Devil's Own
as Edwin Diaz
1997
Movie
Color of Night
as Hector
1994
Movie
Hands of Stone
as Carlos Eleta
2016
Movie
The Two Jakes
as Mickey Nice
1990
Movie
Mo' Better Blues
as Petey
1990
Movie
All the Pretty Horses
as Rocha
2000
Movie
Outlaws - For Greater Glory
as Président Calles
2012
Movie
Life with Mikey
as Angie's Dad (uncredited)
1993
Movie
The Super
as Marlon
1991
Movie
Cradle Will Rock
as Diego Rivera
1999
Movie
The Milagro Beanfield War
as Sheriff Bernabe Montoya
1988
Movie
Fatal Beauty
as Carl Jimenez
1987
Movie
Critical Condition
as Louis
1987
TV
Late Night with David Letterman
as Self - Musical Guest
1982
Movie
Chinese Box
as Jim
1997
Movie
Imagining Argentina
as Silvio Ayala
2003
Movie
Homeboy
as Doctor
1988
Movie
Assassination Tango
as Miguel
2003
Crew
Movie
Oliver & Company
Songs
1988
Movie
Q & A
Original Music Composer
1990
Movie
Empire
Original Music Composer
2002
Movie
Peter Knife
Songs
1984
Movie
Operation Just Cause
Music
2019
Movie
The Story of Fausta
Original Music Composer
1988
Movie
When the Mountains Tremble
Original Music Composer
1983
Movie
Coverup: Behind the Iran Contra Affair
Music
1988
Movie
Ligia Elena
Music
1983
Movie
By the Green Trail
Music
1984
Movie
Pedro Navaja
Author
2026