In 1985, Blades gained widespread recognition as co-writer and star of the independent film 'Crossover Dreams' as a New York salsa singer willing to do anything to break into the mainstream.

But unlike the Latin singer Mr. Blades played in the 1985 movie "Crossover Dreams," they aren't sacrificing Hispanic culture for Anglo popularity.

Translating success in an ethnic community into success in the mainstream culture is no simple matter, as "Crossover Dreams," the 1985 film about a salsa musician, made vividly clear.

"He's very confused," says Leon Ichaso, the director of "Crossover Dreams," the 1984 low-budget film that first brought Blades to the attention of Anglo audiences.

After the success of "Crossover Dreams," Blades was offered parts in several movies and television series.

Blades's temperament flared when he worked on "Crossover Dreams."

Crossover can mean upward mobility; in the film "Crossover Dreams," the salsa star Ruben Blades played a character who would sacrifice anything to cross over from Latin music to pop.

From Leon Ichaso, director of "Crossover Dreams."

Certainly, Mr. Blades, also a star of salsa music and a fine actor in movies like "Crossover Dreams," suffers from a similar, presumably imposed rigidity.

After "El Super," he worked on "Saturday Night Live" and developed "Crossover Dreams," which starred the Panamanian-born music star Ruben Blades.