(Panama City, Panama. 1948) Panamanian singer, composer, musician, actor, lawyer and politician who works mainly in the United States. This artist, whose style has been called "intellectual salsa" has recorded over 20 albums since the 1970s and has been a guest on over 15 recordings by various musicians working in different genres. He has received six Grammy Awards in recognition of his achievement. He has also worked as an actor in different Hollywood and independent films. Blades has stood out for his criticism of Latin American dictatorships, as well as US imperialism. In 1994 he stood in his country’s presidential elections, coming third. In 2004 he supported the presidential candidate, Martín Torrijos, and when this candidate won the elections, Blades took up the position of Minister of Tourism in the new government, a post that he held between 2004 and 2009. Blades recently returned to Panamanian politics, expressing his intention to stand for president again in 2019. On 10 May 2018 he released the album Medoro Madera, which is the name of an alter ego created by the singer. On the album, Blades impersonates the voices of great Cuban singers of the past. On the album he sings versions of classics from the Afro-Cuban repertoire. The cover photo is a mixture of the faces of Blades and his father.