Rubén Blades, the 77-year-old Panamanian singer-songwriter with 25 Grammy awards, is preparing for a London performance. In a video call from his New York City home, he reflected on his multifaceted career spanning music, law, politics, and film.
Early influences and salsa innovation
Blades traces his socially conscious songwriting to his childhood in San Felipe, Panama City, where his father was a detective and his mother an actress. Hearing 'Mack the Knife' from The Threepenny Opera was influential, reminding him of local gangs. In the 1970s, while salsa focused on love songs, Blades wrote about crime and violence. After his family moved to the US following false accusations against his father by Manuel Noriega, Blades worked in the mailroom at Fania Records, meeting Willie Colón and reshaping salsa with social commentary.
New York and literary roots
New York's rough 42nd Street inspired 'Pedro Navaja', a vignette of urban crime now iconic in Latin music. Blades credits his grandmother Emma, a teacher, for his literary streak. She taught him to read at age four and told him, 'We're not poor. We just don't have money. You can have money but still be poor if you don't know anything.' His 1987 album Agua de Luna honors Gabriel García Márquez.
Politics and education
Blades ran for president of Panama in 1994, finishing third. He emphasizes his Harvard law degree as the hardest thing he's done, saying, 'Many times, I wanted to leave, but I am not a quitter.' He is wary of celebrity politics but notes Bad Bunny's potential to mobilize young voters. 'Not every artist is qualified to enter politics – you need education,' he said.
Views on immigration and Trump
Speaking with lawyerly precision, Blades stated, 'Countries have the right to set immigration laws. When we come to London to play, we'll have visas.' He views killings of protesters by ICE agents as 'murder' and calls Donald Trump a 'narcissistic charlatan who wants to destroy democracy.' He added, 'I don't think the United States is going to descend into total fascism. The judiciary is still strong.'
Acting career
Blades has appeared in over 40 films without formal training. His first role was in the 1982 B-movie The Last Fight. He acted alongside Jack Nicholson in The Two Jakes ('I loved it, critics didn't'), and had a long run in Fear the Walking Dead. His next film, Campeón Gabacho, won the audience award at the 2026 SXSW festival. He mentioned a desire to work with Mark Rylance.
Salsa's enduring appeal
For Blades, salsa's power lies in contact. 'In this alienating world, salsa has an advantage over other musical forms: contact. You must touch another person. You have to work together.' He smiles, 'Imagine that.' Rubén Blades plays with the Roberto Delgado Big Band at the Roundhouse, London, on 8 July.
