Dominican vocalist, bandleader, lawyer and former mayor of Santo Domingo, Juan de Dios Ventura Soriano, better known as Johnny Ventura, died on July 28, 2021. The Latin Recording Academy released a statement about Johnny Ventura. “With a career that spanned more than six decades, the Dominican singer and composer, dubbed El Caballo Negro, established himself as one of the most popular merengue and salsa artists of the last century,” said Gabriel Abaroa, Jr., President/CEO of The Latin Recording Academy. “He recorded over 100 albums which included hits like “Patacón Pisao,” “Pitaste,” “El Elevador,” “La Agarradera,” “Capullo y Sorrullo” and “El Tabaco.”

Ventura also had a storied political career in his native country where he served as mayor of Santo Domingo. He was a Latin GRAMMY winner who contributed to The Latin Recording Academy for many years as part of its Board of Trustees, and secretary of the Executive Committee. He was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2006.