Entertainment - AP Movies
Actor-Singer Ruben Blades on the Record
Wed May 7, 2003

By NEKESA MUMBI MOODY, AP Music Writer

NEW YORK - Ruben Blades' idea of having a nice, relaxing evening is 
curling up with a good book - about genetics.

"What is fascinating to me is that it holds the key to understanding 
our reality," Blades said in an interview from his Los Angeles-area 
home. "I think that we're on the way to understanding exactly who and 
what we are, and what we're capable of doing as a species. I find 
that fascinating."

Most people would find Blades' life just as fascinating. Born in 
Panama, the 54-year-old actor-singer moved to New York City in the 
'70s to escape political upheaval in his country. He got a job in the 
mailroom of the famed Fania salsa music label.

In short time, he became part of the Fania All-Stars, and 
collaborated with Willie Colon on the groundbreaking, platinum salsa 
disc "Siembra." Later, he launched a successful career in acting, and 
has garnered two Emmy Award nominations.

Blades - who holds a degree from Harvard Law School - made an 
unsuccessful bid for the presidency of Panama in 1994. He says he 
won't run again, but plans to move back to Panama and become more 
involved in the politics of his homeland.

He won his fifth Grammy Award this year - this one for best world 
music album for "Mundo." The album, sung in both English and Spanish, 
mixes salsa and other genres, including Celtic music.

Blades' new movie, "Once Upon a Time in Mexico," also starring 
Antonio Banderas (news), Johnny Depp (news) and Salma Hayek (news ), 
will open in September. His previous films include "The Milagro 
Beanfield War" (1988), "Cradle Will Rock" (1999) and this year's 
"Assassination Tango."

1. What kind of music did you listen to when you were growing up in Panama?

Blades: Panama is right smack in the middle of America. ... When you 
turned on the radio in those days, they didn't have the demographics 
that determine what stations are going to be playing. In those days, 
you'd hear everything. You'd hear Sinatra, then you'd hear ranchero 
music from Mexico, and then you'd hear a tango, and then you'd hear 
salsa. So I grew up listening to a lot of different music in radio 
and in film.

2. You've been frustrated as an actor because you're often offered 
stereotypical roles. Is that changing?

Blades: No, not really. I don't think necessarily that it's changed 
for everyone. I think that there's still not enough opportunities, 
and I still believe that certain roles like the ones that I've played 
in the last four films that I've done are not the rule, they are the 
exception. ... Although Latinos now have been recognized as the 
largest minority group in this country, we are still sort of 
considered alien in a way.

3. Did people take you seriously as a presidential candidate in Panama?

Blades: People, especially people who are in the professional levels 
... would tend to believe that somebody like myself, although I do 
have my degrees, was not prepared because I spent most of my life as 
a performer. ... On the other hand, the people who supported my work 
as a musician felt good enough about me to give me their support; 
they were less prejudiced.

4. Does political activism help or hurt an entertainer's career?

Blades: I don't think it necessarily helps or hurts you. I think it 
just creates reactions. You have to weigh both and then find out what 
the outcome is. I do believe however that anyone who expresses a 
political or religious opinion and is in the business of music will 
generate a lot of reaction. Some of them will be negative, but that 
is not something that has kept me out of expressing my opinion. But 
it doesn't make your life any easier, especially when you're running 
against the grain.

5. What about genetics fascinates you?

Blades: The argument of racism should disappear through genetics. We 
all come from the source. It's been proven beyond doubt. Instead of 
racism, what we really have are hatreds and prejudices that are born 
out of ignorance and are a direct consequence of cultural 
differences. I think that is a formidable argument against racism. I 
believe the time will come when that point of common origin is 
stressed, and we'll be able to work in solidarity, not the way we've 
been working today.