Johnny Ventura: El Caballo Mayor

Flashback Fridays

Hoy si que nos ponemos a bailar! Give that chair a rest and hit the dance floor, whether it’s your bedroom, living room, office (make sure the boss isn’t watching), this is the type of song that you just can’t help but move to. That’s pretty common when it comes to Johnny Ventura. His songs are ageless and will still pack a dance floor.

Merengue at its purest and finest. The blast of the trumpet that can pierce your ears lets you know that it’s a Johnny Ventura track and you’re about to break out into a good sweat. The man known as “El Caballo Negro” brought with him a charisma and energy that was unmatched earning him legendary status and reputation as the King of Merengue.

Johnny Ventura de Dios Soriano was born in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic on March 8th, 1940. As a young man he had dreams of becoming an architect until one day he won first prize at an amateur contest. Having caught the bug, he started competing in other contests until he finally won the coveted scholarship to attend one of DR’s more prestigious musical academies in which he studied music, vocal technique, and expression.

Soon thereafter, he began a musical career working with various bands within the next four years, working with the likes of Rondon Votau, Donald Wild, Luis Perez (with whom he recorded his first LP), and Papa Molina, among others until it was suggested that he form his own orchestra. Having followed this advice, he formed the world renown Combo Show, an important part of Dominican music history.

Two years after having formed his band, Johnny travelled to the U.S. where he enjoyed immediate success, with his fame spreading to the rest of Latin America, even earning his first Gold record. The song chosen today is a very uptempo piece, heavy on the trumpets. The story in itself is a very lighthearted almost comedic song in which Johnny shows off the talent that earned him his legendary status as well as a witty and humorous side.

This song brings back a lot of memories to me. I remember going to gatherings where this and other old merengues were played and the floor would be packed with people dancing to it. Not much has changed. This song still packs the punch that it did back then and is sure to get the crowd moving at any party.