Roberto Blades: 10 Things Unknown About The Salsa Singer

Roberto Blades is a Panamanian salsa singer known for hits such as Lagrimas (1984), Senora (1986), and Poquita Fe (1987). He was born and brought up in a family of music enthusiasts, with his father, mother, and big brother as musicians. His intention initially was to join the US Air Force, but he drops for it for his family’s tradition-music.

He gained recognition when he joined the Miami-based salsa band, Orquesta Inmensidad (The Immensity Orchestra) in 1981. Subsequently, the band was signed by the New York-based record label Fania Records, which managed the band and oversaw the record, production, and release of the band’s debut album, Inmensidad, and Blades’ hit song Lagrimas.

In addition to the fame, he enjoyed with the band, he received two Grammy Awards in 2000 and 2001 for his work with Gloria Estefan and Marc Anthony in Alma Caribena and his personal project Encore.

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Do You These Facts About Roberto Blades?

1. When Was He Born?

He was born on 2nd July 1962 in Chiriqui, Panama to his parents, Anoland Diaz and Ruben Dario Blades Sr. He grew up together with his only known sibling, his older brother Ruben Blades in Panama. However, sometime in the mid-1970s or late 1970s, his family was expelled from Panama when his father, a former member of the secret police ran into a conflict with Panama’s former military dictator and leader Manuel Noriega who then was said to be the head of military intelligence.

Though it is not clear how his family ran away, reports indicate they made it to Miami, Florida, where Roberto and his older brother pursued their music career vigorously.

2. He Has Multiple Ethnic Roots

The Lagrimas singer is mutli-racial. Apart from being a Panamanian, he is ethnically linked to Colombia through his father and Cuba through his mother. According to reports, the singer’s father was born in Colombia but brought up in Panama.

Therefore, he has some Colombian and Cuban blood coursing through his veins.

3. His Family Is Musically Inclined

The 62 year-old salsa singer was born and raised in a family of not just music lovers but musicians as well. His father was a bongo player, while his mother doubled as a musician and an actress, featuring on radio soap operas.

His older brother Reuben Blades is by far the most successful member of the Blades’ family in music. He went on to win several awards including grammies and Latin grammies.

4. He Initially Wanted To Join The U.S Air Force

While his big brother has been intentional about music from the beginning, Roberto Blades had a different idea. So after his family was sent into exile, his intention was to join the United States Air Force, but all that military ambition changed later when he made the choice to pursue a career in music.

What remains unclear is whether his decision was influenced by his family members who are music enthusiasts. Interestingly, if he had gone ahead to join the military, he would, he would still have traded the path once walked by his father as a police officer in Panama.

Also See-Linda Marigliano- 10 Unknown Facts About The Musical Artist

5. His Musical Career Began In A Salsa Band

When the Chiriqui native abandoned his plans to join the US Air Force, he immediately went into music, joining a Miami-based salsa band known as Orquesta Inmensidad (The Immensity Orchestra) in 1981.

The band was founded in 1980 by Raul Gallimore and had Laz o and Junior as its first vocalists before Robert Blades and Ruben Yindo Rodriguez joined. Later on, the band was reportedly signed by the New York-based record label Fania Records after the label’s producer Jerry Masucci was impressed by the band’s talents.

The contract offered to the band birthed the band’s debut album which became known as “Inmensidad.” Thus the band immediately gained international acclaim by topping charts and sales with a track from the album titled Ya no regreso contigoI.

Apart from the signed by the band, Blades was said to have been offered another contract by the label. He spent a decade there writing incredible songs that include Lagrimas, among others.

6. He Is A Two-Time Grammy Award Winner

The 62 year-old Panamanian salsa singer’s career took a new dimension when he teamed up with Emilio Estefan Jr in 1992. That musical relationship led to Blades winning two Grammy Award in 2000 and 2001.

He got the first grammy in the “Best Traditional Tropical Latin Album” category following his work with Gloria Estefan and Marc Anthony in Alma Caribena. The following year he got a second for his personal work in the “Best Salsa Album” category for Encore.

7. His Older Brother Is One of the Most Successful And Influential Salsa Musicians

Ruben Blades, Roberto Blades Older Brother

His older brother Ruben Blades was born on 16th July 1948 in Panama City, Panama. He grew up to establish a career in music, acting, and politics, thus becoming a big and influential figure in the salsa music scene, particularly in the 20th and 21st centuries.

Musically, he composed, wrote, and sang dozen of hits such as Pedro Navaja, and El Cantante and performed mostly in salsa and Latin jazz genres. Also, he merged the various complexities of Central America and Cuban lyrics and rhythms into his music to win 9 Grammy Awards out of 17 nominations, including 10 Latin Grammy Awards.

As an actor, Blades’ big brother featured in several projects with big roles in films such as Crossover Dreams (1985), The Milagro Beanfield War (1988), The Predator 2 (1990), The Super (1991), and Hands of Stone (2016). His role in the 1991 Josephine Baker Story, 1992 Crazy From The Heart, and 2003 The Maldonado Miracle earned him three Emmy Awards nominations.

Politically, he gained the respect and admiration of not just Panamanians alone, but entire Latin America and Spain. Moreover, he contested for the office of President in the 1994 Panamanian Presidential elections, but only got 17% of the votes. Exactly a decade later, he was appointed minister of tourism by President Martin Torrijos

Educationally, he earned a B. A Law from the University of Panama in 1972, and a Master in International Law from Havard University in 1985.

8. Is He Married?

The Salsa singer’s marital status is not yet known at this time. It seems he is the type of man that prefers to keep the media and their lenses away from his personal affairs. On the other hand, it is impossible to conclude that he has never dated anyone.

9. How Rich Is He?

Roberto Blades has been active in the salsa music scene since the 1980s to date and has churned out a lot of top chart hits which were also commercially successful. For this, he is said to have an estimated net worth of $14 million.