Dominican merengue star Johnny Ventura dies at 81
Merengue star Johnny Ventura died on Wednesday in Dominican Republic at 81years outdated. Ventura, who was often called “El Caballo Mayor” – the nice horse – was acknowledged for modernizing merengue, a Dominican fashion of music and dance in style all through Latin America.
The nation’s Ministry of Tradition posted in regards to the star’s demise on Twitter, writing: “We be part of within the ache that overwhelms his household in these tough occasions. His legacy will reside endlessly in his songs and Dominican tradition.”
Ventura, a singer, songwriter, bandleader and arranger had a number of hit songs, together with “Patacón pisao” and “Capullo y sorullo.” The Latin Grammy-winning artist additionally obtained a lifetime achievement award from the awards present in 2006, the Related Press stories.
He gained a Latin Grammy in 2004 for greatest merengue album for “Sin waste.” The Latin Recording Academy additionally awarded him a lifetime achievement award.
“We deeply remorse the lack of a beloved trainer and legend of Latin music,” academy tweeted. “He contributed for a few years as a part of the Board of Administrators of the Latin Academy.”
Ventura can also be recognized for hits “¿Pitaste?” and “Merenguero hasta la tambora.” He was the chief of Combo Present de Johnny Ventura, his personal Orchestra.
In 2015, he was named King of New York Metropolis’s Dominican Day Parade, alongside MLB participant Pedro Martinez. The Nationwide Dominican Day Parade posted about Ventura on Instagram Thursday. “What a legacy he has left to music followers everywhere in the world and to his beloved Dominican Neighborhood,” they wrote.
On Wednesday, Ventura appeared dancing in a video posted on his Fb web page. “I miss the human heat of my viewers, we’re going to shield ourselves to return to regular quickly,” the caption learn. He was very energetic on social media, sharing movies of his current performances into his 80s.
Born Juan de Dios Ventura Soriano in 1940, he graduated summa cum laude in legislation on the College of the Third Age, in response to the AP.
Ventura additionally grew to become trustee – or mayor – of Santo Domingo from 1998 to 2002 with the Dominican Revolutionary Social gathering. He was married for greater than 50 years to Nelly Josefina Flores. That they had seven youngsters, together with musicians Jandy and Juan José.
In 2020 the Dominican Congress awarded him Merenguero del Siglo – merengue performer of the century.
