Johnny Ventura (born Juan de Dios Ventura Soriano, March 8, 1940, La Romana, Dominican Republic) is a Dominican merengue composer and singer, the first to achieve widespread fame outside of the Dominican Republic. He is known throughout the world as the legendary Merenguero, "El Caballo". March 8 is the 67th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (68th in Leap years). ... 1940 (MCMXL) was a leap year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1940 calendar). ... La Romana is a province of the Dominican Republic, and also the name of its capital. ... Merengue can mean either: A style of music originating in the Dominican Republic; see merengue (music) A related style of dance; see merengue (dance) A style of vallenato music from Colombia See also meringue, a type of dessert (which is called merengue in Spanish). ...

Ventura and his orchestra, the "Combo Show", added rock and roll elements to the genre in the early 1960s, influenced by the early stars of American rock (including Elvis Presley). His hits include "Patacón pisao", "Pitaste", "El elevador", "La agarradera", "Capullo y Sorrullo", and "El tabaco," and has recorded over 100 albums. He continued to record into the 1990s. Rock and roll (also spelled Rock n Roll, especially in its first decade), also called rock, is a form of popular music, usually featuring vocals (often with vocal harmony), electric guitars and a strong back beat; other instruments, such as the saxophone, are common in some styles. ... The 1960s decade refers to the years from January 1, 1960 to December 31, 1969, inclusive. ... Elvis Aron Presley (January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977), often known simply as Elvis and also called The King of Rock n Roll or simply The King, was an American singer, musician and actor. ... The examples and perspective in this article or section may not represent a worldwide view. ...

Ventura became involved in politics in 1962, joining the Dominican Revolutionary Party (PRD). He was Vice Mayor of Santo Domingo under Dr. José Francisco Peña Gómez from 1982 to 1986, and was Mayor from 1998 to 2002. The Dominican Revolutionary Party (Spanish: Partido Revolucionario Dominicano, or PRD) is one of the main political parties of the Dominican Republic. ... José Francisco Peña Gómez (born March 6, 1937 in Mao, Valverde, Dominican Republic, died May 10, 1998 in Cambita Garabitos, San Cristobal, Dominican Republic) was the leader of the Dominican Revolutionary Party (PRD) and former Mayor of Santo Domingo. ...