And music was a very important part of our lives. The radio was on all day.

Quote by Ruben Blades

Topics: Ruben Blades Quotes

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...

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...

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 was born in Panama, the Republic of Panama, on July 16, 1948 in Panama...

I was born in Panama, the Republic of Panama, on July 16, 1948 in Panama...

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

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

And, he'd seen me in Panama, and he talked about maybe doing something in New...

And, he'd seen me in Panama, and he talked about maybe doing something in New...

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

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

It was very interesting, and we went to Germany and we toured Germany like we...

It was very interesting, and we went to Germany and we toured Germany like we...

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...

Every band had their own distinctive sound, but it was pretty much dancing music and...

Every band had their own distinctive sound, but it was pretty much dancing music and...

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...

Rock is young music, it is youth oriented. It just speaks for a generation.

Rock is young music, it is youth oriented. It just speaks for a generation.

I was the first person to come into New York with a Latin American point...

I was the first person to come into New York with a Latin American point...

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...

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.

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.

So everything that ever happened, we knew about in Panama.

So everything that ever happened, we knew about in Panama.

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.

So that in 1974, when I graduated as a lawyer, I figured I'm not going...

So that in 1974, when I graduated as a lawyer, I figured I'm not going...

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...