Johnny Ventura is the man who almost singlehandedly developed and modernized the contemporary merengue sound, beginning with his first recordings in the early '60s. He was influenced by the original wave of rock & roll, and quickly imported the energy as well as some dance routines inspired by Elvis. He continued to record into the 1990s, though other merengue singers such as Wilfrido Vargas and Juan Luís Guerra had usurped much of his popularity. ~ John Bush