The Senate issued a resolution that recognizes the late merengue star Johnny Ventura as the father of modern merengue. Ventura passed away of a heart attack on Wednesday, 28 July 2021. In addition to his career as a merengue singer, composer, musical arranger and orchestra director, Ventura was a member of the Chamber of Deputies (1982-1986) and served as mayor of Santo Domingo (1998-2002).
He was mourned on 29 July at the Blandino Funeral home on 29 July. On Friday, 30 July his body will be mourned at the People’s Force Party at 9am/Calle Benito Monción. At 11am the funeral services will be held at the Chamber Deputies and at 2pm at the National District city hall.
On Saturday, 31 July, the wake will continue at 8am at the Palacio de los Deportes in the Juan Pablo Duarte Olympic Sports Center, at 2pm in his Villa Juana barrio. The burial is scheduled for 4pm at the Cristo Redentor Cementery. The Ventura Soriano family tomb mausoleum is located next to that of late politician Jose Francisco Peña Gómez. He will be buried beside his mother.
In the Dominican Republic, where music was played, the merengues of Johnny Ventura sounded all day as Dominicans mourned and celebrated the legendary artist. Abroad, several media also rendered tribute to Ventura.
Read more in Spanish:
El Nuevo Diario
El Nuevo Diario
Diario Libre
Diario Libre
Diario Libre
Noticias SIN
30 July 2021