Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic (CNN)Dominican merengue legend Juan de Dios Ventura Soriano, besides known arsenic Johnny Ventura, died Wednesday astatine the property of 81, his lad Jandy Ventura confirmed to CNN.
The singer-songwriter died of a bosom onslaught astatine the Medical Union Clinic successful the bluish metropolis of Santiago, successful the Dominican Republic, according to his son.
The "Caballo Mayor," arsenic helium was besides known, was 1 of the astir beloved artists successful the Dominican Republic, and his songs were portion of the repertoire of different large Latin American artists.
Following Ventura's death, 3 days of mourning were decreed successful the country. The island's emblem is to beryllium flown astatine half-staff and subject honors are to beryllium performed by the Ministry of Defense.
Ventura was having luncheon erstwhile helium felt a "sudden onset thorax pain, with consequent collapse," a connection from the session said, adding that Ventura arrived astatine the aesculapian halfway astatine 2:25 p.m. ET successful the institution of his chauffeur.
Upon the singer's arrival, "immediate precocious cardiopulmonary resuscitation maneuvers (were performed) for 45 minutes, during which clip helium ne'er had a response," the connection details.
Ventura was declared dormant astatine 3:12 p.m. ET, according to the clinic's statement. The connection said determination are 4 imaginable causes of death: abrupt death, probable myocardial infarction, hypertensive bosom illness and ischemic bosom disease.
Many Dominican Republic celebrities and internationally-known figures lamented the decease of Ventura by sharing their condolences connected aggregate societal media platforms.
In summation to his creator career, Ventura spent 50 years successful politics, wherever helium served arsenic a lawman and mayor. He was joined to Josefina Flores for astir 50 years.
"My Dad died working. He was astatine a enactment gathering and from determination helium was going to grounds a song," Ventura's lad Jandy said during a news conference aft his father's death.
"The Ventura household is arrogant of each the bequest my dada left. We person our heads held high. We are not ashamed of thing that helium could person done. (I want) to archer the Dominican Republic and the world, that they mislaid the top exponent of the Dominican Republic's music," Ventura's lad added.
Written by CNN's Tatiana Arias successful Atlanta
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