Rubén Blades is a Panamanian musician, singer, composer, actor, activist, and politician. Musically, he often performs in salsa and Latin jazz genres.

As a songwriter, Blades brought the lyrical sophistication of Central American nueva canción and Cuban nueva trova as well as experimental tempos and politically inspired Son Cubano salsa to his music, creating “thinking persons’ dance music.” Blades has written dozens of hit songs, including “Pedro Navaja” and “El Cantante.” He has won nine Grammy Awards out of seventeen nominations and five Latin Grammy Awards

Blades has also been in many films and TV shows. He began his acting career in 1983, and he has been in movies such as Crossover Dreams (1995), Predator 2 (1990), Safe House (2012), and The Counselor (2013).  He has earned three Emmy Award nominations for his performance in The Josephine Baker Story (1991).

As a successful artist and actor, Blades is considered an icon in Panama and is much admired throughout Latin America and Spain. He even managed to attract 17% of the vote in an attempt to run for the Panamanian presidency in 1994.