- Born
- Birth nameRubén Blades Bellido de Luna
- Height5′ 10″ (1.78 m)
- Rubén Blades was born on July 16, 1948 in Panama City, Panama. He is an actor and composer, known for Once Upon a Time in Mexico (2003), Color of Night (1994) and The Counselor (2013). He has been married to Luba Mason since 2006. He was previously married to Lisa Lebenzon.
- SpousesLuba Mason(2006 - present)Lisa Lebenzon(December 13, 1986 - ?) (divorced)
- ParentsRuben Dario Blades Sr.Anoland Diaz
- His maracas painted like flag of Panama
- Songs about social criticism and daily life
- On stage, he wears a hat and in interviews wears a bonnet.
- Songs as: "Maestra Vida", "Pedro Navaja", "Desiciones", "Desapariciones", "Tiburón", etc.
- Ran for President of Panama as founder and head of the Papa Egoro party in 1994. He came in third behind the two leading Panamanian parties. However, he won a respectable 18% of the vote. His party gained enough seats in the Panamanian Legislature to ensure its continuance and a place in national politics, until it was dissolved in 1999.
- Blades uses the English pronunciation (rhymes with "glades"), as Ruben's grandfather Reuben Blades was English, a native of St. Lucia.
- Holds degrees in Law from the University of Panama and International Law from Harvard University.
- The son of a bongo player turned police detective and a mother who taught piano, Blades grew up with music but studied law at the University of Panama. In 1974, at 26, he landed in New York City with just $100 in his pocket and a dream to make it as a singer.
- He won his first Grammy for the album, "Encenas", and has won 4 more in Latin categories, a Latin Grammy, and one in World Music for the album "Mundo.".
- What good is it to know something, if you don't share what you know?
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