Colombian Nobel Prize in Literature winner Gabriel García Márquez considered himself more of a writer than a singer, says Rubén Blades. But the legendary Panamanian singer/songwriter sees himself more as a “journalist” who “tries to be as objective as possible within the subjectivity of creating a song.”
“What I wrote was honest and I still feel that way,” Blades said on Wednesday (Oct. 21) during the Icon Q&A With Rubén Blades panel, moderated by Billboard‘s co-chief content officer Leila Cobo at Billboard Latin Music Week.
Entire generations across Latin America and the U.S. have grown up listening to Blades, one of salsa’s most influential voices, who helped redefine the genre with a unique combination of musical innovation and powerful storytelling. A central figure in New York City’s salsa revolution of the 70s, Blades expanded the horizons of classic Afro-Cuban salsa by incorporating influences from rock, jazz, Pan-Latin music and sounds from various parts of the world.
“Music offers many varieties; not everything has to be political or critical — it’s also for having fun and dancing,” he noted. “My contribution was believing that music didn’t necessarily have to talk about the same themes — betrayal by a woman or a friend — but could go beyond that.”
This is how his songs have stood out, not only for their unforgettable melodies but also for their socially conscious lyrics and memorable characters. He turned stories of everyday life into timeless music, with classics such as “Pedro Navaja,” “Decisiones” and “El Padre Antonio y Su Monaguillo Andrés.”
At 78, Blades remains very active in music, touring across the region and working on various acting projects. These include his recent appearance in the movie Campeón Gabacho by Mexican filmmaker Jonás Cuarón and his upcoming role in Porto Rico, the first fiction feature film directed by René Pérez (Residente), which also marks Latin music superstar Bad Bunny’s debut as a lead actor.
“What [Residente] is doing is extremely interesting,” Blades said without revealing details about his role in the film. “We both share the same curiosity — I learn from him, he learns from Bad Bunny, and from Viggo Mortensen too. We’re learning from everyone, and René is learning from them now.”
During the talk, Blades also reminisced about the last time he spoke with his former collaborator Willie Colón, who passed away on February 21, 2023. The two had a long-standing dispute over the Siembra 25 Años concert (2003) and the master rights related to it. Blades shared that the last time they met was in 2023 at the wake of musician Jorge “Georgie” González.
“It was a cordial meeting,” recalled Blades, who is also a lawyer and Panama’s former Minister of Tourism. “The last photos we took together were that afternoon. My respect and recognition for him will never disappear.”
This Thursday (Oct. 22), Blades will be honored with the Billboard Icon Award at the 2026 Billboard Latin Music Awards, which will be broadcast live on Telemundo from Miami. The award recognizes an artist whose career has not only remained relevant over time but has also established them as one of the most distinguished artists in their genre, celebrated worldwide for achieving both musical and commercial success.
Blades, whose career spans more than five decades, said he still feels energized to continue touring — even performing five-and-a-half-hour shows, as he did during a concert in Puerto Rico. “I think the only surprise is that I don’t know how to drive,” he confessed, adding that it’s not something he plans to learn at this stage of his life.
