Johnny Ventura
Encyclopedia
Juan e Dios Ventura Soriano, better known as Johnny Ventura (born 8 March 1940 in Santo Domingo
, Dominican Republic
) is a singer and band leader of merengue
.
. When Ventura Soriano appeared for the first time in the TV show: La TV busca una estrella, that was broadcast Friday night at seven, they rang the bell. In the following week, like a champion, Juan de Dios returned to be welcomed in the same competition
. He practiced, worked and was crowned for the hit. Then he won first prize. Thereupon he won a lot of prizes in the devotees programs, until he was finally rewarded with the much desired scholarship which the broadcasting
company, property of José Arismendi Trujillo Molina, gave for young talents. With La Voz Dominicana Juan de Dios studied music, vocal techniques and expression.This made ventura one of the most famous singers in latin America.
of Rondón Votau and in 1961 with the band of the Dominican percussionist Donald Wild.
In 1962 he sang with Combo Caribe of Luis Pérez
, with whom he recorded Cuidado con el cuabero, of which he was the author, and La agarradera, of Luis Pérez. It was with this band that he recorded his first LP consisting of 12 songs.
In 1963 Johnny Ventura was recruited by the famous musical director Papa Molina to join La Super Orquesta San José, which he was the director at that time. He joined as singer and as player of the güira
. For two years Ventura was part of La Super Orquesta with stars like Vinicio Franco and Grecia Aquino. Although no records remain of this group, this period was a landmark in his career.
In 1964, the Cuba
n impresario
Angel Guinea insisted on Johnny Ventura to create his own orchestra, the "Combo Show" which is known as an important part of the history of popular Dominican music.
In 1965, with his orchestra, Ventura recorded for the Fonogram label the album La Coquetona, La Resbalosa and El turun tun t'un. In 1967 he travelled to the United States
, where he immediately became a star. He is credited with the song La muerte de Martin, with the voice of Luisito Martí, the Combo Show made their first golden record with Ah no, yo no sé no.
Santo Domingo
Santo Domingo, known officially as Santo Domingo de Guzmán, is the capital and largest city in the Dominican Republic. Its metropolitan population was 2,084,852 in 2003, and estimated at 3,294,385 in 2010. The city is located on the Caribbean Sea, at the mouth of the Ozama River...
, Dominican Republic
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is a nation on the island of La Hispaniola, part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean region. The western third of the island is occupied by the nation of Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands that are shared by two countries...
) is a singer and band leader of merengue
Merengue music
Merengue is a type of music and dance from the Dominican Republic. It is popular in the Dominican Republic and all over Latin America. Its name is Spanish, taken from the name of the meringue, a dessert made from whipped egg whites and sugar...
.
Early History
He began his career as a singer when he presented himself with some friends in a program of devotees which was broadcast by La Voz de la Alegria weekly. The young Soriano, only 16 years of age, obtained first place of the participants. A little later, he started appearing in the programs of devotees which were sponsored by La Voz DominicanaLa Voz Dominicana
La Voz Dominicana was the official radio and television station of the Dominican Republic during the regime of Rafael Leónidas Trujillo. The station was a radio broadcast only called La Voz del Yuna in Bonao until Jose Arismendy Trujillo Molina , brother of President Trujillo, acquired the station...
. When Ventura Soriano appeared for the first time in the TV show: La TV busca una estrella, that was broadcast Friday night at seven, they rang the bell. In the following week, like a champion, Juan de Dios returned to be welcomed in the same competition
Competition
Competition is a contest between individuals, groups, animals, etc. for territory, a niche, or a location of resources. It arises whenever two and only two strive for a goal which cannot be shared. Competition occurs naturally between living organisms which co-exist in the same environment. For...
. He practiced, worked and was crowned for the hit. Then he won first prize. Thereupon he won a lot of prizes in the devotees programs, until he was finally rewarded with the much desired scholarship which the broadcasting
Broadcasting
Broadcasting is the distribution of audio and video content to a dispersed audience via any audio visual medium. Receiving parties may include the general public or a relatively large subset of thereof...
company, property of José Arismendi Trujillo Molina, gave for young talents. With La Voz Dominicana Juan de Dios studied music, vocal techniques and expression.This made ventura one of the most famous singers in latin America.
Musical Career
In 1959, Juan de Dios decided to take the name Johnny Ventura. He started his career as a singer in several bands that presented themselves at the dances in La Feria. He worked with the orchestraOrchestra
An orchestra is a sizable instrumental ensemble that contains sections of string, brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments. The term orchestra derives from the Greek ορχήστρα, the name for the area in front of an ancient Greek stage reserved for the Greek chorus...
of Rondón Votau and in 1961 with the band of the Dominican percussionist Donald Wild.
In 1962 he sang with Combo Caribe of Luis Pérez
Luis Pérez
Luis Pérez may refer to:*Luis Alberto Pérez, Nicaraguan boxer*Luis Alberto Pérez-Rionda, Cuban athlete*Luis Deines Pérez, Puerto Rican boxer*Luis Ernesto Pérez, Mexican footballer*Luis Manuel Pérez, Domincan baseball pitcher...
, with whom he recorded Cuidado con el cuabero, of which he was the author, and La agarradera, of Luis Pérez. It was with this band that he recorded his first LP consisting of 12 songs.
In 1963 Johnny Ventura was recruited by the famous musical director Papa Molina to join La Super Orquesta San José, which he was the director at that time. He joined as singer and as player of the güira
Güira
A güira is a percussion instrument from the Dominican Republic, generally used in merengue, bachata, and its subgenres, that sounds like a maraca or hi-hat but in fact is a sheet of metal—in practice, often from a five gallon oil can—evenly perforated with a nail, shaped into a cylinder or...
. For two years Ventura was part of La Super Orquesta with stars like Vinicio Franco and Grecia Aquino. Although no records remain of this group, this period was a landmark in his career.
In 1964, the Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
n impresario
Impresario
An impresario is a person who organizes and often finances concerts, plays or operas; analogous to a film producer in filmmaking, television production and an angel investor in business...
Angel Guinea insisted on Johnny Ventura to create his own orchestra, the "Combo Show" which is known as an important part of the history of popular Dominican music.
In 1965, with his orchestra, Ventura recorded for the Fonogram label the album La Coquetona, La Resbalosa and El turun tun t'un. In 1967 he travelled to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, where he immediately became a star. He is credited with the song La muerte de Martin, with the voice of Luisito Martí, the Combo Show made their first golden record with Ah no, yo no sé no.