RUBÉN BLADES
Born July 16th, 1948 in the Republic of Panama.
Education
Holds Degrees in Law and Political Science from the University of Panama (1974) and Harvard Graduate Law School (1985).
He has an Honorary Doctorate in Chicano Studies, from Berkeley University (California).
He has an Honorary Doctorate in Humanities from Lehman College (Bronx, New York).
He has an Honorary Doctorate of Music Degree from Berklee University (Boston, Massachusetts).
Awards and Distinctions
Named Ambassador Against Racism by the United Nations (2000).
ASCAP honored him with the “Founder’s Award” and “Hero’s Award” (2004).
The Chilean Government presented him with the Pablo Neruda Medal of Honor (2006).
The Latin American Tourism Confederation (COTAL) selected him as the Tourism Personality of the Year, honoring him with the Albatros Award (2007).
Latin Trade Magazine honored him with the Bravo Award for the Most Innovative Leader of the Year (2008).
Aid for Aids honored him with the “My Hero” award for his work promoting Aids awareness (2010).
Film and Music
He has starred in 35 movies, 2 television shows and recorded over 20 albums.
Has won 9 Grammy Awards.
Has been nominated for 3 Emmy Awards and won a Cable Ace Award in the Best Actor category (1989).
Launched his most recent recording Cantares del Subdesarrollo independently. The record is available online, through his website www.rubenblades.com and iTunes. It was nominated for two Latin Grammy awards, in the Best Song of the Year and Best Singer-Songwriter Album category. It won the Latin Grammy for the Best Singer-Songwriter category in November 2010.
After a five-year hiatus, he went on a sold-out comeback tour with Seis del Solar, band founded in 1982. The show, produced by Ariel Rivas Entertainment and The Relentless Agency, was called Todos Vuelven and was seen by over a million people in over 20 cities throughout Latin America and the United States. At the end of 2010 he launched Todos Vuelven Live, a collection of CDs and DVDs that document the historic tour.
Politics
Founder of the Papa Egoro political party in the Republic of Panama (1992).
Ran for President of the Republic of Panama in 1994, coming in third place, with 18% of the vote in the election, among 27 parties and seven presidential candidates.
Worked as General Administrator of the Authority of Tourism in Panama and Minister of Tourism of Panama, from September 1st 2004, until June 30th 2009.
Current Projects
He is working on 15 records at the time.
- Record with Cheo Feliciano
- Tango record with Carlos Franzetti
- Record with Boca Livre from Brasil
- Two live albums with the Roberto Delgado Orchestra from Panama
- Cuban music album with Medoro Madera
- Record with the Roberto Delgado Orchestra from Panama (unreleased material)
- New special edition recording of Cantares del Subdesarrollo
- Five records that include the re-recording of material from the Fania / Elektra era
- Bolero album with Paco de Lucia
- Bolero album with Luba Mason
He plans to launch his first book in 2011.
He is planning to enroll in Columbia University, New York City, in 2012 where he will attend courses to earn his PhD in Law or Sociology, in the Fall 2012.
