Iconic merengue singer Johnny Ventura died Wednesday at 81 in his native Dominican Republic following a coronary heart assault.
Ventura’s son Johnny Ventura confirmed to CNN the dying of his father.
Ventura, who was dubbed the Elvis of merengue, had received six Latin Music Grammys, one in every of which was a Lifetime Achievement Award he acquired in 2006.
RIP: Iconic merengue singer Johnny Ventura died Wednesday at 81 in his native Dominican Republic following a coronary heart assault. He was snapped in 2019 in Las Vegas
He was additionally concerned in politics, as he was the mayor of Santo Domingo spanning 1998 by means of 2002, after a stint as vice mayor from 1994 till 1998.
The late singer, whose actual title was Juan de Dios Ventura Soriano, started his performing profession as a teen, competing in a number of expertise reveals.
His fame rose within the early Nineteen Sixties as he labored with a variety of completely different performers in Santo Domingo, together with Rondón Votau’s orchestra, percussionist Donald Wild’s band, Combo Caribe De Luis Pérez and Papa Molina’s La Tremendous Orquesta San José, in response to Rolling Stone.
He finally launched into a solo profession with the Johnny Ventura y su Combo Present, with which he had hits together with El Elevador, Merenguero Hasta la Tambora, Patacon Pisao, and Pitaste.
Stalwart: Ventura, snapped in 2016 in Las Vegas, achieved success in music and politics
Completed: Ventura, who was dubbed the Elvis of merengue, had received six Latin Music Grammys, one in every of which was a Lifetime Achievement Award he acquired in 2006
Charming: The merengue legend was snapped in 1995 performing in New York Metropolis
Ventura would play alongside salsa 60s performers akin to Celia Cruz, El Grupo Area of interest and Wilfrido Vargas in embarking to New York in a while within the decade.
Quite a lot of individuals took to social media with memorials lauding Ventura’s legacy, together with Raquel Arbaje Soni, the First Girl of the Dominican Republic.
She tweeted, ‘At this time is a really unhappy day for merengue and for the Dominican Republic. Johnny Ventura, El Caballo Mayor, has left us bodily, however his legacy and pleasure will all the time be with us. My solidarity hug to your family members.’
Onstage: Ventura was seen performing in San Juan, Puerto Rico in November of 2019
Ventura carried out alongside Milly Quezada at MGM Grand Backyard Enviornment on November 16, 2016 in Las Vegas
Rep. Adriano Espaillat from New York tweeted, ‘Johnny Ventura was a superb good friend – he was a person of his phrase, a person of infinite expertise, a nationwide treasure, and an icon of the Dominican neighborhood.
Espaillat, who in 2016 turned the primary Dominican-American elected to Congress, continued: ‘My coronary heart breaks now that he is gone, however his spirit should – and can – stay on. Relaxation in energy, brother.’
One consumer wrote that Ventura’s passing marked ‘a significant loss to the legacy of the Dominican Republic’s contributions to music,’ including, ‘Spin some classics at the moment. This one hurts.’
The singer is survived by spouse Nelly Josefina Flores, seven children, 17 grandkids and three great-grandchildren, NBC News reported.
Notable political names akin to Raquel Arbaje Soni, the First Girl of the Dominican Republic, and New York Rep. Adriano Espaillat chimed in with condolences
Quite a lot of followers shared fond phrases of the internationally-acclaimed musical artist
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