Juan de Dios is a saint. Ventura Soriano, better known as Johnny Ventura, was a Dominican merengue and salsa singer and bandleader. His albums “Cuidado Con el Cuabero” from 1963 and “Ah…! Yo No Se…No” from 1971 are well-known.
At the age of sixteen, he won a singing competition hosted by La Voz de la Alegria. During his 60-year career, Ventura, dubbed the “Elvis of merengue” by some in the music business, released hundreds of recordings. According to the Latin Recording Academy, he earned six Latin Grammys, including a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2006 for his “great creative contributions to Latin music.” From 1994 to 1998, he was the deputy mayor of Santo Domingo, and from 1998 to 2002, he was the mayor of Santo Domingo. On July 28, 2021, we sadly lost such a diverse figure. Johnny Ventura, a great Dominican merengue singer, has passed away at the age of 81.
Johnny Ventura’s Bio
Johnny Ventura was born on March 8, 1940, in La Vega, Dominican Republic, with the name Juan de Dios Ventura Soriano. His nationality was Dominican, and his ethnicity was Dominican-black. Similarly, his ethnicity was black and his faith was Christian. In March of 2021, Johnny became 81 years old. His zodiac sign was Pisces, according to his birthday. His father, Martin Ventura, and mother, Virginia Soriano, were his parents.
Johnny Ventura’s Career
Johnny Ventura began his singing career by appearing in radio programs, following which he had his television debut on the show La TV busca una estrella. He subsequently returned to the same competition, where he rehearsed, worked, and was declared as the winner of the hit as well as first prize. He also won several awards in devotees’ programs before ultimately receiving the much-coveted scholarship from the television corporation. Later in life, he studied music, vocal methods, and expressiveness, and as a result, he became one of Latin America’s most well-known singers. In addition, the late vocalist began his career in music in the early 1960s after joining a number of Latin music ensembles. He recorded his own song “Cuidado Con el Cuabero” as well as Luis Perez’s “La Agarradera.” He recorded his debut LP, which consisted of 12 songs, with this band.
In 1963, he was hired by musical director Papa Molina to join La Super Orquesta San Jose, where he performed as a vocalist and guira musician. In 1964, he formed his own ensemble, the “Combo Show,” which is regarded as an essential element of Dominican popular music history. In 1965, Johnny released the albums “La Coquetona,” “La Resbalosa,” and “El Turun Tun Tun” for the Fonogram label, and then proceeded to the United States, where he became a celebrity in 1967. With the voice of Luisito Marti, the Combo Show achieved their first gold record with “Ah…! Yo No Se… No.” Ventura was credited with the song “La muerte de Martin” (1971).
After achieving rockstar status in the music world, Johnny entered politics. From 1994 to 1998, he was the deputy mayor of Santo Domingo, and in 1998, he was elected mayor of Santo Domingo, a position he held until 2002.
Who Is Johnny Ventura’s Wife?
Johnny Ventura was a husband and father. On October 27, 1970, he married his lovely bride Nelly Josefina Flores de Ventura. Three children were born to the couple. Last year, the much-loved couple celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary, and to commemorate the occasion, Ventura shared a part of their turbulent love story with his followers. He has four further children, as well as 17 grandkids and three great-grandchildren from other marriages. When asked about his sexual orientation, Johnny said that he was heterosexual.
Johnny Ventura’s Net Worth
As of 2022, Johnny Ventura had a net worth of roughly $6 million, however his actual income had not been released. Johnny has never done any kind of endorsement job before. He was enamored with expensive automobiles and homes. In addition, his singing and political careers were his main sources of revenue.
When did Johnny Ventura reach the pinnacle of his career?
Johnny Ventura was a good-looking man with a well-balanced body weight. He had a hairless head and dark-colored eyes. He had an average body type. Furthermore, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Ventura tested positive for COVID-19 and was hospitalized on February 28th, 2020. On the 13th of April 2020, he declared that he had recovered and had tested negative for the coronavirus.
Quick Facts
At the age of sixteen, Johnny won a singing competition hosted by La Voz de la Alegria. From 1998 to 2002, he served as mayor of Santo Domingo, his hometown. He and Gilberto Santa Rosa are both well-known salsa bandleaders. He is the father of four children from previous partnerships. In 1967, he moved to the United States, where he quickly rose to fame.