Rubén Blades

Brought literary, socially conscious lyrics to salsa ('Pedro Navaja'); wrote 'El cantante' for Lavoe; 'Siembra' (1978) with Willie Colón.

Panamanian singer, composer, lawyer and actor Rubén Blades (b.1948) brought literary, socially conscious storytelling to salsa, most famously the murder ballad 'Pedro Navaja'. His 1978 album 'Siembra' with Willie Colón remains a genre landmark, and he wrote 'El cantante' for Héctor Lavoe. He later won numerous Grammys and served as Panama's Minister of Tourism.

Role

singer, composer

Era

Fania-Era Salsa

Genre

Salsa (Fania era)

Origin

Panama City, Panama