DR1 Daily News - Dominican Republic

Part of 16th Street in Miami is now the Johnny Ventura Way in honor of the legendary Dominican merengue singer-songwriter, musician and arranger. Ventura died 28 July 2021 of heart failure. He is credited with modernizing merengue music. His widow, Josefina Flores de Ventura, was in Miami for the unveiling of the new street together with her children Juan Jose, Euridice and Jandy.

“Johnny Ventura was not only a great artist, he was a political figure who fought for the rights of his Dominican people and for all the oppressed peoples around the world, such as Cuba,” said Miami Commissioner Manolo Reyes.

In 2021, Ventura was recognized by the United States Congress for being an icon of Dominican music, internationally recognized for his talent and dedication to improving his community and exporting his music to the United States, Europe and Africa.

Ventura died...