And, he'd seen me in Panama, and he talked about maybe doing something in New York so I hooked it up when I came here and I recorded in 1969 my first album with Pete Rodriguez.

Quote by Ruben Blades

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It doesn't make sense for me to be a lawyer in a place where there...

It doesn't make sense for me to be a lawyer in a place where there...

It's almost as if people think that in Latin America we're not hip to what's...

It's almost as if people think that in Latin America we're not hip to what's...

You know, it was uncomfortable doing the same thing. I don't like a rut.

You know, it was uncomfortable doing the same thing. I don't like a rut.

So I went to Miami in '74 with my family and while I was there...

So I went to Miami in '74 with my family and while I was there...

There was no television, so the radio provided you with everything.

There was no television, so the radio provided you with everything.

In those days the big U.S. labels didn't have any particular interest in the Latin...

In those days the big U.S. labels didn't have any particular interest in the Latin...

A lot of times you're just conditioned by what's around you.

A lot of times you're just conditioned by what's around you.

I was a kid, and I remember my mother singing. She was also a radio...

I was a kid, and I remember my mother singing. She was also a radio...

But, when I was about thirteen, I began to sort of sing in my neighborhood.

But, when I was about thirteen, I began to sort of sing in my neighborhood.

People are a lot smarter than anyone gives them credit for being.

People are a lot smarter than anyone gives them credit for being.

The grandmother, the mother, the worker, the student, the intellectual, the professional, the unemployed, everybody...

The grandmother, the mother, the worker, the student, the intellectual, the professional, the unemployed, everybody...

I didn't do drugs, I never did do drugs. Never. I don't have any story...

I didn't do drugs, I never did do drugs. Never. I don't have any story...

So that when I came from Panama... my family was exiled in 1973 and they...

So that when I came from Panama... my family was exiled in 1973 and they...

We had something to say. Whenever we played, people didn't dance, they listened.

We had something to say. Whenever we played, people didn't dance, they listened.

I decided we should book ourselves, so I started booking the band.

I decided we should book ourselves, so I started booking the band.

So that when I came to New York again, it was, I'm not too sure...

So that when I came to New York again, it was, I'm not too sure...

What is interesting in this is the exchange of music that occurred between New Orleans...

What is interesting in this is the exchange of music that occurred between New Orleans...

I think in New York we had respect and we would pretty much fill up...

I think in New York we had respect and we would pretty much fill up...

So that I saw music as a way of documenting realities from the urban cities...

So that I saw music as a way of documenting realities from the urban cities...

What I do not accept is the fact that so many people's talents were ripped...

What I do not accept is the fact that so many people's talents were ripped...