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

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