Dominican music legend Johnny Ventura dies at 81

Juan de Dios Ventura Soriano, also known as Johnny Ventura, died at the age of 81 on Wednesday, his son Jandy Ventura told CNN. The singer-songwriter succumbed to a heart attack at Medical Union Clinic in Santiago, Dominican Republic.

One of the highly acclaimed musicians in the Dominican Republics, Johnny Ventura was also known as the ‘Caballo Mayor’. The country will mourn for three days, following his death. Furthermore, the island’s flag will be flown at half-staff and the Ministry of Defence will perform military honours.

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In a statement, the clinic said that Johnny Ventura felt a “sudden onset chest pain, with subsequent collapse” while he was having lunch. He was later accompanied by his chauffeur to the clinic. “Upon the singer’s arrival, immediate advanced cardiopulmonary resuscitation maneuvers (were performed) for 45 minutes, during which time he never had a response,” the statement further read.

According to the statement, there are four probable reasons for his death: sudden death, probable myocardial infarction, hypertensive heart disease and ischemic heart disease.

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Apart from being an exceptionally talented Latin artist, he worked for 50 years as a politician. During his time, he served as a deputy and mayor.

“My Dad died working. He was at a work meeting and from there he was going to record a song,” Ventura’s son Jandy said in a press conference.

He added, “The Ventura family is proud of all the legacy my dad left. We have our heads held high. We are not ashamed of anything that he could have done. (I want) to tell the Dominican Republic and the world, that they lost the greatest exponent of the Dominican Republic’s music.”