138 shares
His fame rose in the early 1960s as he worked with a number of different performers in Santo Domingo, including Rondón Votau's orchestra, percussionist Donald Wild's band, Combo Caribe De Luis Pérez and Papa Molina’s La Super Orquesta San José, according to Rolling Stone.
He eventually embarked on a solo career with the Johnny Ventura y su Combo Show, with which he had hits including El Elevador, Merenguero Hasta la Tambora, Patacon Pisao, and Pitaste.
Stalwart: Ventura, snapped in 2016 in Las Vegas, achieved success in music and politics
Accomplished: Ventura, who was dubbed the Elvis of merengue, had won six Latin Music Grammys, one of which was a Lifetime Achievement Award he received in 2006