After politics, Rubén Blades prepares to return to music

by Antonio Mejías-Rentas

Ruben Blades

BACK ON THE ROAD: As he retakes his musical career following a five-year stint as Panama’s Minister of Tourism, singer-songwriter Ruben Blades says he has not given up on his political aspirations.

Blades told a Panamanian TV station last week he is willing to run again for president, but only if the country’s constitution is altered to allow a president to serve more than one five-year term. He ran for Panama’s highest office in 1994 but gained only 1 7 percent of the vote. In 1999 he backed winning candidate Martin Torîjos and took a five year hiatus from recording and performing to serve in the Tourism office, a post that ended on June 30.

Although Blades performed in a European tour intended to promote tourism to Panama, his official return to performing is expected to be the Todos vuelve tour with his old band Seis del Solar, set to launch Aug. 21 and 22 in Puerto Rico. While Blades has indicated there are 17 cities in the American continent confirmed for the tour, the only other date on sale is Nov. 21 in Miami (details at www.rubenblades.com).

The performer celebrated his 61st birthday on June 16 and marked the occasion by visiting his archive collection at Har­vard University, where he obtained his law degree in 1965. Since June 30 he has joined his wife, jazz singer Luba Mason, on her Krazy Love tour and the visit to the campus coincided with her date in Boston that evening.B lades has not been completely absent from the entertainment world. Earlier this year he recorded a rap chorus for the single La Perla, by the Puerto Rican urban duo Calle 13. He also acted in the film Spoken Word, expected to be released in 2010.

Other musicians in the news:

• ­Singer Marc Anthony revealed in New York bis affi liation with the Miami Dolphins NFL team. He may become a minority owner, as musical colleagues Emilio and Gloria Estefan did recently. Marc Anthony is expected to perform during halftime of the Oct. 12 Dolphins game to be broadcast on ESPN’s Monday Night Football. Hispanic Link

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