So that when I came to New York again, it was, I'm not too sure right now, but it was '74 or '75. I went to Miami in '74 and then I came to New York, I think, at the…

Quote by Ruben Blades

Topics: Ruben Blades Quotes

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...

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...

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...

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...

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.

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 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...

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

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

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 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...

They're making a ton of money, and no one is getting a nickel.

They're making a ton of money, and no one is getting a nickel.

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.

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 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...

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'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...

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.

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...