Trending on Billboard Rubén Blades was always an iconoclast. He got a master’s in international law from Harvard, but gained global prominence and unlikely commercial success as a salsa musician, known for his complex songs that told urban tales of daily travails and economic inequality. He won international acclaim as a recording artist but ran for president of his native Panama at the height of his music career. He became a Hollywood darling with prominent acting roles yet never hesitated to vocally criticize what he perceived as social injustices. Explore See latest videos, charts and news Although Blades became a musician in Panama, he forged his path in New York, the birthplace of salsa. His first record deal was with the Alegre label, owned by music impresario Morris Levy, where he released his 1970 debut, De Panamá a New York .…