 Rubén BLADES Panama The inventor |
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Rubén BLADES Panama The inventor |
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Born in Panama in 1948 in a
family of amateur musicians, Rubén Blades launches out as
singer at the age of 18, before carrying out his first record two years later in 1968. He then decides to run the risk in New York, but the clearness of his political conscience, that he injects into the words of his invention, tallies badly with the musical climate of the yankee latinos of the time, still under the influence of the naďve boogaloo. This disappointing experiment will push him to go back to his native land, before returning to New York for one second chance in 1973. He finds a subordinate employment there in the impossible to circumvent latino record company, Fania. Once in the place, he fights hard to impose his views: the creation of a salsa conscious, which would speak not only to the body, but also to the mind. The meeting in 1975 with Willie Colon, another rebel, less intellectual but directly connected to the hard law of the ghetto, will be determining for Rubén Blades, after his rapid passage in the Ray Barretto's orchestra. Willie Colon and Rubén Blades, complementary, will produce together until the beginning of the 80's some impeccable records where salsa gains an unquestionable maturity. And Fania company - which before saw of an evil eye this political turn - is well obliged to follow, since Rubén and Willie became stars... In conflict with his record company, Rubén Blades puts a term to his collaboration with Willie Colon and leaves Fania in 1983 to integrate Elektra, specialized in rock'n'roll. There, he enjoys total musical freedom. He explores new paths, by putting the brass aside and introducing synthetizers to his group Seis del Solar. For the lyrics, he maintains his opinion : of a great writing, they denounce the living conditions of the poors and attack the dictators of Latin America. He will transform his group into Son del Solar to accompany the return of the brass in 1988 with Antecedente. His success will be confirmed. He will decide during those years to devote part of his activities to politics, and will run to the '94 Panamean presidential elections after the fall of the sinister Noriega. His alternative political formation (Papa Egoro, the Mother-Earth) ranked 3rd, and Rubén Blades was not elected : Panama loses a president but salsa keeps one of its more beautiful child. |
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