Rubén Blades Is Not My Name | American Masters | PBS Latin American icon Rubén Blades was at the center of the New York salsa revolution in the 1970’s. His socially charged lyrics and explosive rhythms brought salsa music to a global audience. Blades has won 17 Grammys, acted in Hollywood, earned a law degree from Harvard and even ran for president of his native Panama. He granted exclusive access to his life at home in New York and on tour.