Ruben Blades Biography (1948-)

Full name, Ruben Dario Blades, Jr.; July 16, 1948, in Panama City, Panama; immigrated to the United States, 1974; son of Ruben Dario, Sr. (a bongo player,later a police detective) and Anoland Benita (an actress, singer, and pianoteacher; maiden name, Bellido de Luna) Blades; married Lisa A. Lebenzon (an actress), December 13, 1986 (divorced). Addresses: Agent: United TalentAgency, 9560 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills, CA 90212.; Manager: MBST Entertainment, 345 N. Maple Dr., Suite 200, Beverly Hills, CA 90210.

Gender
Male
Occupation
Actor, writer, singer, producer, composer, lyricist, politician
Birth Details
1948
Panama City, Panama

Famous Works

  • CREDITS
  • Film Appearances
  • Andy "Kid" Clave, The Last Fight, Best, 1982
  • When the Mountains Tremble, 1983
  • Beat Street, Vestron, 1984
  • Rudy Valez, Crossover Dreams, Miramax, 1985
  • Himself, The Return of Ruben Blades (documentary), Mug-Shot Productions, 1987
  • Louis, Critical Condition, Paramount, 1987
  • Carl Jimenez, Fatal Beauty, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1987
  • Sheriff Bernabe Montoya, The Milagro Beanfield War, Universal, 1988
  • Carlos Barrios, Disorganized Crime (also known as DisorganisedCrime), Buena Vista, 1989
  • Doctor, Homeboy, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1989
  • Petey, Mo' Better Blues, Universal, 1990
  • The Heart of the Deal, 1990
  • Mickey Nice/Michael Weisskopf, The Two Jakes, Paramount, 1990
  • C. W., The Lemon Sisters, Miramax, 1990
  • Danny Archuletta, Predator 2, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1990
  • Marlon, The Super, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1991
  • (Uncredited) Angie's father, Life with Mikey (also known as Give Me a Break), Buena Vista, 1993
  • Bartender, A Million to Juan (also known as A Million to One), Turner Home Entertainment, 1994
  • Lieutenant Hector Martinez, Color of Night, Buena Vista, 1994
  • Himself, Yo soy, del son a la salsa (documentary; also known as From Son to Salsa), 1997
  • Sam Zaragosa, Scorpion Spring, New Line Home Video, 1997
  • Jim, Chinese Box, Trimark, 1997
  • Edwin Diaz, The Devil's Own, Columbia, 1997
  • Diego Rivera, Cradle Will Rock, Buena Vista, 1999
  • Don Hector Rocha y Villarael, All the Pretty Horses, Sony PicturesEntertainment, 2000
  • Miguel, Assassination Tango, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 2002
  • FBI Agent Jorge, Once Upon a Time in Mexico, Sony Pictures Entertainment, 2003
  • Silvio Ayala, Imagining Argentina, Arenas Entertainment, 2003
  • Ernesto Bejarano, Spin, Freestyle Releasing, 2003
  • Sergio, Carla's father, Secuestro express, Miramax, 2005
  • The Hunters and the Hunted: The Making of "Predator 2" (documentary short), Twentieth Century-Fox Home Entertainment, 2005
  • Also appeared in Waiting for Salazar.
  • Film Producer
  • Buscando guayabas, 2000
  • Television Appearances
  • Series
  • Gideon's Crossing, ABC, 2000-2001
  • Movies
  • Ben, Dead Man Out (also known as Dead Man Walking), HBO, 1989
  • Perrone, One Man's War, HBO, 1991
  • Ernesto Ontiveros, Crazy from the Heart, 1991
  • Pepito Abatino, The Josephine Baker Story, 1991
  • Pastor Beruman, Miracle on I-880 (also known as Miracle on Interstate 880), NBC, 1992
  • Somos un solo pueblo, 1995
  • Cruz, The Maldonado Miracle, Showtime, 2003
  • Specials
  • Himself, Routes of Rhythm, 1984
  • The 28th Annual Grammy Awards, CBS, 1986
  • AIDS: Changing the Rules, PBS, 1987
  • The 29th Annual Grammy Awards, CBS, 1987
  • A Latino Session, Cinemax, 1989
  • The 31st Annual Grammy Awards, CBS, 1989
  • The Best of Cinemax Sessions, Cinemax, 1990
  • Routes of Rhythm with Harry Belafonte, PBS, 1990
  • Count Giuseppe Pepito Abatino, The Josephine Baker Story, HBO, 1991
  • Ernesto Ontiveros, Crazy from the Heart, TNT, 1991
  • The 4th Annual Desi Awards, syndicated, 1992
  • Let the Good Times Roll, PBS, 1993
  • An American Reunion: New Beginnings, Renewed Hope, HBO, 1993
  • In a New Light '93, ABC, 1993
  • Concert of the Americas, PBS, 1994
  • The Opening Ceremonies of the 1995 Special Olympics World Games, NBC, 1995
  • Presenter, The 37th Annual Grammy Awards, CBS, 1995
  • The 1995 NCLR Bravo Awards, Fox, 1995
  • Somos un solo pueblo, 1995
  • Presenter, The 42nd Annual Grammy Awards, 2000
  • Presenter, Sports Illustrated's Sportsman of the Year 2000, CBS, 2000
  • Soul Train Christmas Starfest, syndicated, 2000
  • Presenter, Lifetime Presents Disney's American Teacher Awards, Lifetime, 2000
  • Himself, The Palladium: Where Mambo Was King, 2002
  • Encuentro (documentary), 2002
  • Himself, En mi pais, 2004
  • Pilots
  • Luis Juega, Fall Road, NBC, 1996
  • Episodic
  • Late Night with David Letterman, NBC, 1985
  • Sesame Street, PBS, 1986
  • Rockambole, 1989
  • Pero esto que es, 1989, 1990
  • Storytime, PBS, 1994
  • Conrad Lozano, "El mundo gira," The X-Files (also known as TheX Files), Fox, 1997
  • Sessions at West 54th, PBS, 1997
  • Himself, Lo + plus, 2002
  • Martin, "Verguenza," Resurrection Blvd., Showtime, 2002
  • Himself, "Lo latino," La tierra de las 1000 musicas, 2005
  • Stage Appearances
  • 2nd Annual Hollywood Salsa and Latin Jazz Festival, Hollywood Bowl, Hollywood, CA, 1995
  • Salvador, The Capeman, Marquis Theatre, New York City, 1998
  • RECORDINGS
  • Albums
  • (With Pete Rodriguez) De Panama a Nueva York, c. 1969
  • (With the Willie Colon Orchestra) Metiendo mano, Fania, 1976
  • (With the Willie Colon Orchestra) Siembra, Fania, 1977
  • Bohemio y poeta, Fania, 1979
  • Maestra Vida: Primera parte, Fania, 1980
  • Maestra Vida: Segunda parte, Fania, 1980
  • (With the Willie Colon Combo) Canciones del solar de los aburridos, Fania, 1982
  • Buscando America (title means "Searching for America"), Elektra, 1984
  • Escenas (title means "Scenes"), Elektra/Asylum, 1985
  • Agua de luna (title means "Moon Water"), Elektra/Asylum, 1987
  • Nothing but the Truth, Elektra/Asylum, 1988
  • Ruben Blades Live, Elektra/Asylum, 1989
  • Antecedente, Elektra, 1990
  • Y son del solar (also known as Ruben Blades y son del solar ...Live!), Elektra, 1990
  • Caminando, Sony-CBS, 1991
  • Amor y control, Sony-CBS, 1992
  • El que la hace la paga, Fania, 1992
  • Best of Ruben Blades, Sony, 1992
  • Ruben Blades with Strings, Fania, 1992
  • Poeta Latina, Charly Latin, 1993
  • Tras la tormenta (also known as After the Storm), Sony Tropical, 1995
  • La rosa de los vientos (title means "The Rose of the Winds"), SonyInternational, 1996
  • Greatest Hits, WEA International, 1996
  • Tiempos, Sony Discos, 1999
  • From Panama, Fania, 2000
  • Sembra y Otros Favoritos Salsa Para Siempre, Musica Latina, 2001
  • Salsa Caliente du Nu York, Import, 2002
  • Mundo, Sony, 2002
  • Recorded first album with Los Salvajes del Ritmo (meaning the Rhythm Savages), 1966; also has recorded with Elvis Costello, Lou Reed, and Sting.
  • Taped Readings
  • Joseph and His Brothers, Rabbit Ears, 1993
  • WRITINGS
  • Screenplays
  • (With Leon Ichaso and Manuel Arce) Crossover Dreams, Miramax, 1985
  • Film Scores
  • When Mountains Tremble, 1983
  • (With others) Crossover Dreams, Miramax, 1985
  • The Return of Ruben Blades (documentary), Mug Shot Productions, 1987
  • Por los caminos verdes, 1987
  • The Story of Fausta (also known as Out of My Way and Romance de Empregada), Barreto/Embrafilme, 1988
  • Q & A, TriStar, 1990
  • A Design for a Life (short), 2001
  • Empire, Universal, 2002
  • Vivir pedaleando (short), 2003
  • Film Songs
  • The Last Fight, 1982
  • Pedro Navaja, 1984
  • El Hijo de Pedro Navaja, 1986
  • (Theme song) Behind the Iran-Contra Affair, 1988
  • Oliver and Company, 1988
  • Chances Are, TriStar, 1989
  • Do the Right Thing, 1989
  • True Believer, Sony, 1989
  • Gladiator, Sony, 1992
  • Dance with Me, Sony, 1998
  • (H) Historias cotidianas (documentary), 2001
  • Empire, Universal, 2002
  • Television Scores
  • Specials
  • Gryphon, PBS, 1988
  • Stage Music
  • The Balcony, American Repertory Theatre, Cambridge, MA, 1986
  • Other
  • Contributor of articles to periodicals, including La estrella de Panama, the New York Times, and the Village Voice.

Further Reference

OTHER SOURCES

    Books
    • Contemporary Hispanic Biography, Vol. 3, Gale Group, 2003
    • Contemporary Musicians, Vol. 2, Gale, 1990
    • Marton, Betty A., Ruben Blades, Chelsea House, 1991
    Periodicals
    • Back Stage, February 27, 1998, pp. 5-7
    • Billboard, June 17, 2000, p. 68
    • Chicago Tribune, October 4, 1985
    • Harper's Bazaar, March, 1994, pp. 326-332
    • Inter Press Service, May 26, 1998
    • Interview, April, 1986, pp. 210-214
    • Los Angeles Magazine, September, 1995, pp. 145-147
    • Los Angeles Times, October 2, 1985
    • Newsweek, September 9, 1985
    • New York, August 19, 1985
    • New York Times, August 18, 1985; June 21, 1987; March 17, 1994
    • People Weekly, May 9, 1994, pp. 181-183
    • Rolling Stone, April 23, 1987, pp. 36-40, 158
    • Time, July 11, 1988; January 29, 1990, pp. 70-73
    • Village Voice, March 5, 1985
    • Washington Post, October 11, 1985