Fourteen cuts make up Mundo (World), Panamanian songwriter Ruben Blades’ album that eventually gave him his fifth Grammy award.

Born on July 16, 1948 in a humble family of Panama City, Ruben Blades began performing at an early age. While attending Law School is his hometown, Mr. Blades developed a musical style of his own in which he pays full heed to his Latin and Caribbean roots.

Though his professional career kicked off in 1965 with the Papi Arozarena Band, his fame skyrocketed in 1977 when he teamed up with Willie Colon and launched his Siembra LP, that included his blockbuster Pedro Navaja. Ruben Blades, who has combined his musical career with brief appearances on the big screen and politics, put together in Mundo (2002) music from nearly every nook and cranny of the planet. Back in 1999, he had tried his hand at mixing percussion from the Caribbean and South America in Tiempos, a CD that brings along the notes of such classical instruments as violas, violins and violoncellos.