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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
Tributes Paid to Johnny Ventura After Merengue Legend Dies Aged 81 newsweek.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from newsweek.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.