Johnny Ventura facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Johnny Ventura
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Johnny Ventura, November 2011
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Juan de Dios Ventura Soriano |
| Born | 8 March 1940 La Vega, Dominican Republic |
| Died | 28 July 2021 (aged 81) Santiago, Dominican Republic |
| Genres | Merengue, salsa |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, bandleader, lawyer, politician, author |
| Instruments | Vocals |
| Years active | 1956–2021 |
Juan de Dios Ventura Soriano (born March 8, 1940 – died July 28, 2021), known to everyone as Johnny Ventura, was a famous singer and band leader from the Dominican Republic. People often called him El Caballo Mayor, which means "The Great Horse". He was a master of merengue and salsa, two popular music styles. Besides his music, he also worked in politics. He was the vice-mayor of Santo Domingo from 1994 to 1998, and then the mayor from 1998 to 2002.
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Meet Johnny Ventura: The Merengue Legend
Johnny Ventura was a true legend in Latin music. He was known for his energetic performances and for making merengue music popular around the world. He started his career very young and worked hard to become one of the most loved artists of his time. His music made people want to dance and celebrate.
How Johnny Started Singing
Johnny Ventura began his singing journey when he was just 16 years old. He joined some friends in a talent show on a radio station called La Voz de la Alegría. He won first place! After that, he kept appearing in similar talent shows sponsored by a big company called La Voz Dominicana.
He even appeared on a TV show called "La TV busca una estrella." He kept winning prizes in these shows. Eventually, he earned a special scholarship from La Voz Dominicana. This scholarship allowed him to study music, learn vocal techniques, and improve his stage presence. These studies helped Johnny Ventura become one of the most famous singers in Latin America.
From Singer to Mayor
Johnny Ventura wasn't just a musician; he was also a public servant. In 1998, he was elected as the mayor of Santo Domingo. This city is the capital of the Dominican Republic. He served as mayor for four years, from 1998 to 2002. Before that, he was the vice-mayor of Santo Domingo from 1994 to 1998. It's pretty cool that he could be both a huge music star and a leader in his country!
Creating the Famous Combo Show
In 1959, Juan de Dios officially changed his name to 'Johnny Ventura'. He started singing with different bands at dances. He worked with the Rondón Votau orchestra and later with Donald Wild's band in 1961.
In 1962, he joined a group called Combo Caribe with Luis Pérez. With them, he recorded his first songs, including "Cuidado Con el Cuabero," which he wrote himself. He also recorded his first full album with 12 songs.
A music director named Papa Molina invited Johnny to join La Super Orquesta San José in 1963. For two years, Johnny was a singer and played the güira, a special instrument.
In 1964, a music producer from Cuba, Angel Guinea, encouraged Johnny to start his own band. This led to the creation of the "Combo Show." This band became a very important part of Dominican music history. In 1965, the Combo Show released albums like La Coquetona and El Turun Tun Tun. They traveled to the United States in 1967 and quickly became very popular there. Their album Ah..! Yo No Se... No (1971) became their first "golden record," meaning it sold a lot of copies!
His Many Hit Albums
Johnny Ventura released many, many albums throughout his long career. These albums featured his unique blend of merengue and salsa, making people dance for decades. He created a huge collection of music that fans loved.
His Last Years
In March 2020, Johnny Ventura shared that he had tested positive for COVID-19. He was taken to the hospital. Luckily, he recovered and announced in April 2020 that he was healthy again.
Sadly, Johnny Ventura passed away on July 28, 2021. He was 81 years old and died from a heart attack. He left behind an amazing legacy of music and public service.
See also
In Spanish: Johnny Ventura para niños
