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Closing the Culture Gap
An internationally known singer, composer, actor, and political activist turns heads at a Berklee clinic.
By Matt Moldover, '02
(July 19, 2000)
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Ruben Blades. |
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Photo by Kim Grant. |
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Ruben Blades shares his intimate thoughts and personal anecdotes with the patient, humble manner of a school teacher, but his words break language barriers to address serious political issues. At a late June clinic in the Berklee Performance Center, Blades answered questions and shared ideas about everything from racism to music to genetics, to his new role as Good Will Ambassador to the United Nations. During his expansive two-hour talk, Blades only briefly mentioned his musical career, choosing instead to focus on social issues. It was not your typical Berklee clinic.
Among countless other achievements, Blades has earned a master's degree in international law from Harvard and been involved in politics since running for president of Panama in 1994. Blades says he is hoping to return home and perhaps take up a political office but warns that, "You have to be careful about who is inviting you to do things. Aligning with an organization can lose you the trust of the people." Blades touched on racial issues, giving a reminder to the Latin American community: "Yes, you are from a different country but we're all here. We're all Americans. We don't have to be 'Latin-American' or 'Cuban American.' Fear and hate surround race relations not because of skin color, but because of cultural differences."
The music on Blades' twenty-odd albums embodies his politically minded message more than any of his other achievements. "I'm not only writing for the feet and the hips, I'm writing for the soul and the mind," he said. Ruben's next album will feature the Brazilian group "Poca Libre." The new original compositions will include Irish, Scottish and Afro-Cuban influences in hope of bridging the gap between more musical styles and cultures.
Joining Blades for the clinic was the new age/latin pop group Editus, from Costa Rica. The trio gave a short concert and answered questions concerning their personal backgrounds and the musical and cultural developments in and around Costa Rica. Ediitus' latest album is a collaboration with Ruben Blades titled "Tiempos".
Blades ended his talk with some words of encouragement. "Don't think you can't accomplish your dreams. Keep your objective clear. Know why you want to do what you want to do and prepare yourself to do it. When what you do, feel, and think are one, that is happiness."
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