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Ruben Blades relives his past, present and future 3:59
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(CNN Spanish) - Panamanian singer-songwriter, actor, politician and activist Rubén Blades will become the first Latino on April 30 to receive the Harvard University Art Medal, his alma mater.
The prestigious university will decorate it during the “Arts First” festival.
“Rubén Blades has permeated the many aspects of his remarkable career with a deep humanity and passionate intensity. He is a phenomenal musician, a talented actor, and a passionate public servant. We look forward to receiving you again at the University and celebrating your various achievements in the arts, ”said Harvard President Larry Bacow in a statement.
Rubén Blades does not fear the challenges or the walking deadThe Panamanian, who was also a presidential candidate in 1994 and Minister of Tourism of Panama (2004-2009), graduated from Harvard in 1985 with a Master in International Law. In 1972, Blades received a law degree from the University of Panama.
His first success as a composer was "The Singer", performed by Héctor Lavoe. One of the first musical productions in which Blades collaborated, "Siembra" by Willie Colon, entered the Latin Grammy Hall of Fame in 2007.
In 2019 he was nominated for the Grammy Award in the category “best Latin jazz album” for his album “Una noche con Rubén Blades”. In 2017, he won one of the most important awards of the night at the Latin Grammy, “album of the year”, for “Salsa Big Band”.
In his more than four decades of career, Blades accumulates 9 Grammy and 5 Latin Grammy awards.
The Harvard Art Medal is awarded to alumni of the university and members of the various faculties since 1995, the year that the career of actor Jack Lemmon was commemorated.
Personalities such as cellist Yo-Yo Man (2004), actor and writer Matt Damon (2013), actor Tommy Lee Jones (2012), Canadian poet Margaret Atwood (2014), architect Frank Gehry (2016), among others .
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Ruben Blades