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

Quote by Ruben Blades

Topics: Ruben Blades Quotes

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...

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...

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

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

Anywhere you had a commerce center, you had a lot of music.

Anywhere you had a commerce center, you had a lot of music.

Yes, I was going to law school and it was closed in '69.

Yes, I was going to law school and it was closed in '69.

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

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

I think we risk becoming the best informed society that has ever died of ignorance.

I think we risk becoming the best informed society that has ever died of ignorance.

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...

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...

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...

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.

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.

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 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...

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

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

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...

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...

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

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

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.

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...