Johnny Ventura

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About Johnny Ventura

Johnny Ventura almost single-handedly modernized merengue during the early 1960s. Possessed of a smooth, supple baritone, he was also an electrifying dancer, composer, arranger and bandleader who released more than 100 albums. He influenced virtually every merengue singer who followed. Fascinated by the energy and dance moves in early rock & roll music -- especially Elvis Presley's -- Ventura grafted them onto merengue on early albums such as 1965's El Boogaloo Esta en Algo, and 1966's Figurando. Though he readily embraced salsa during the 1970s on such recordings as Salsa y Algo Más, (1971) and 1973's Salsa, he never abandoned merengue. He registered hit albums during the '80s including El Sueño but dissolved his band in 1992 and went into politics. In 2002 he resumed touring and recording, issuing hit albums with 2006's 103 Boulevard, 2013's El Viejo 'Tan en la Calle, and 2016's Tronco Viejo.

HOMETOWN
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
BORN
8 March 1940
GENRE
Salsa and Tropical

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