Rubén Blades in Los Angeles

Rubén Blades is a Panamanian singer-songwriter, actor and former politician, born in Panama City in 1948. He writes salsa and Latin jazz songs built around narrative lyrics and social observation. His best-known work includes “Pedro Navaja,” “Plástico” and the album Siembra, recorded with Willie Colón, as well as Buscando América. The 2004 Caminando, Adiós y Gracias tour was billed as a farewell, but he returned to the road with the Todos Vuelven tour later in the decade. His subsequent concerts have featured a large salsa ensemble, and the Salswing Tour again placed him at the microphone in front of Roberto Delgado’s orchestra.