Juan Luis Guerra facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Juan Luis Guerra
Guerra, Santo Domingo, 2012
Born	Juan Luis Guerra Seijas (1957-06-07) 7 June 1957 (age 68) Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Alma mater	Berklee College of Music
Occupation	Musician singer composer record producer
Years active	1983–present
Title	Juan Luis Guerra
Spouse(s)	Nora Clementina Altagracia Vega Rasuk ​ (m. 1983)​
Children	2
Awards	Full list
Musical career
Genres	Merengue bachata salsa Latin pop
Instruments	Vocals guitar piano
Labels	KAREN Records (1983–2000) Venemusic (2004) Capitol Latin (2007–present)
Associated acts	Juanes

Juan Luis Guerra Seijas (born June 7, 1957) is a famous Dominican musician, singer, and composer. He also produces music for other artists.

Juan Luis Guerra is known for his unique blend of merengue and Latin styles. He helped make bachata music popular around the world. His songs often mix many different rhythms. These include merengue, bachata, bolero, salsa, pop, and jazz.

He has won many important awards, including 28 Latin Grammy Awards and three Grammy Awards. He has sold over 15 million records worldwide. This makes him one of the top-selling Latin music artists. One of his most famous songs is Ojalá Que Llueva Café.

Early Life and Music Studies

Juan Luis Guerra Seijas was born to Gilberto Guerra Pacheco and Olga Seijas Herrero. He has two brothers, José Gilberto and Diego Esteban. As a student, he loved sports.

Before music, he studied Philosophy and Literature. Later, he learned guitar and music theory. He attended the National Conservatory of Music in Santo Domingo. Then, he went to the Berklee College of Music in Boston, USA. He graduated in 1982 with a degree in jazz composition. After college, he returned home and started a band.

Music Career Highlights

Starting with 440

In 1984, Juan Luis Guerra released his first album, Soplando. He formed a band called Juan Luis Guerra y 440. The "440" refers to the musical tuning standard A440. His first album was more about jazz, not meant to be a big hit. But soon, he started writing more merengue songs.

In 1983, he signed with Karen Records. This changed his music style towards merengue. He released Mudanza y Acarreo (1985) and Mientras Más Lo Pienso...Tú (1987). These albums became more popular.

In 1988, he became the main singer of 440. Their album Ojalá Que Llueva Café made him famous internationally. It topped music charts in many Latin American countries.

Success in the 1990s

In 1990, 440 released Bachata Rosa. This album was a huge success and won Guerra his first Grammy award. It sold over five million copies. This allowed him to tour in Latin America, the US, and Europe. The album has many popular love songs. Some of these are "Burbujas de amor" and "Bachata Rosa."

In 1992, Guerra released Areíto. This album included the hit song "El costo de la vida". This song talked about the high cost of living and other social issues in Latin America. It was his first song to reach number one on the Hot Latin Tracks chart.

His next album, Fogaraté (1994), focused on traditional Dominican music. In 1998, Ni es lo mismo ni es igual won three Latin Grammys. Popular songs from this album include "Mi PC" and "El Niágara en Bicicleta".

Music and Awards in the 2000s

In 2004, Guerra released Para Tí. This album featured mostly Christian songs. It quickly became number one on the US Top Latin Albums chart. The album won two awards at the 2005 Billboard Music Awards. The song "Las Avispas" won both Gospel-Pop and Tropical-Merengue awards. Guerra also received the Spirit of Hope Award for his charity work.

Juan Luis Guerra performing in Madrid, Spain, in 2005.

In 2006, Guerra performed at Berklee's 60th anniversary. He also sang with other artists like Diego Torres and Maná. In 2007, he received a lifetime achievement award at the Premio Lo Nuestro awards. His album "La Llave De Mi Corazón" (The Key to My Heart) won over 20 awards. This included 5 Latin Grammy Awards and a Grammy Award.

In 2007, he won 5 Latin Grammy Awards. He won for Record of the Year, Album of the Year, and Song of the Year. He also received the Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year Award. This was for his contributions to Latin music and his charity work. In 2008, he won 6 awards at the Premios Casandra in the Dominican Republic.

In 2008, he was named a UNESCO Artist for Peace. This was for his work helping children with disabilities and those in need. In 2009, he received an honorary doctorate from his old school, Berklee College of Music.

New Music in the 2010s

In 2010, Guerra released his single "Bachata en Fukuoka." The video was filmed in Los Angeles. His album A son de Guerra (2010) featured eight different music styles. It included a song with Juanes. The first single, "Bachata en Fukuoka," reached number one on several Billboard charts.

In 2012, his song "En el cielo no hay Hospital" was released. This song was part of his album "Colección Cristiana." He also worked with Spanish singer Miguel Bosé on the song "Yo creo en Ti."

In 2014, he released "Tus Besos". This bachata song had a music video inspired by 1950s rock and roll. His son, Jean Gabriel, directed the video.

In 2019, Juan Luis Guerra set a record at the Carnival of Santa Cruz de Tenerife in Spain. He gathered over 400,000 people for a concert. This was the largest crowd for an open-air concert there.

Singing in Other Languages

Juan Luis Guerra has recorded songs in English. Examples include "July 19th" and "Medicine for My Soul." Some of his songs mix English and Spanish, like "La Llave de Mi Corazón."

He also sang songs in the Arawak language of the ancient Taíno people. His album "Bachata Rosa" was also recorded in Portuguese. He even uses Japanese words in "Bachata en Fukuoka."

Writing Songs for Others

Juan Luis Guerra has written songs for many other artists. In 1988, he wrote "De tu boca" for Dominican musician Taty Salas. He also composed songs for Mexican artists like Emmanuel and Luis Miguel. He wrote "Hasta que me olvides" for Luis Miguel in 1993. In 1994, he wrote "Te Propongo" for Puerto Rican salsa singer Gilberto Santa Rosa.

Song Meanings and Style

Juan Luis Guerra's music is strongly influenced by Caribbean rhythms. His lyrics often use simple, colorful language and metaphors. For example, "Burbujas de Amor" means "Bubbles of Love."

His songs also talk about social issues in a human way. "Visa Para un Sueño" is about the challenges of trying to visit America. "El Niágara en Bicicleta" describes problems in healthcare. "El Costo de La Vida" talks about how global changes affect everyday people. "Acompáñeme Civil" addresses issues of police fairness.

Discography

Tours

• Ojala Que Llueva Cafe Tour (1990–91)
• Bachata Rosa World Tour (1991–92)
• Areito World Tour (1993)
• Tour 20 años (2004–06)
• La Travesia Tour (2008–09)
• A Son de Guerra World Tour (2011–13)
• Todo Tiene Su Hora Tour (2015–17)
• Literal Tour Grandes Éxitos (2019)
• Entre Mar y Palmeras Tour (2022-24)

Awards and Nominations

440 Band Members

• Janina Rosado
• Roger Zayas-Bazán
• Maridalia Hernández
• Mariela Mercado
• Marco Hernández (replaced Maridalia Hernández)
• Adalgisa Pantaleón (replaced Mariela Mercado)
• Quico Rizek (replaced Marco Hernández)

Personal Life and Charity Work

Juan Luis Guerra is married to Nora Clementina Altagracia Vega Rasuk. They have two children. His wife's sister is the aunt of Amelia Vega Polanco, who was Miss Universe 2003.

In 2000, he became an evangelical Christian. He became a worship director at the “Más Que Vencedores” church in Santo Domingo.

He is also a Goodwill Ambassador for UNESCO. In 2008, he took part in an event to fight poverty. In 2010, he organized a concert to raise money for people affected by the 2010 Haiti earthquake. This concert helped build a children's hospital in Haiti.

See also

In Spanish: Juan Luis Guerra para niños

• List of best-selling Latin music artists