The Mayor’s Office of Santiago, the second largest city in the Dominican Republic, declared on Thursday ‘Distinguished Visitor’ the singer-songwriter Juan Luis Guerra, in recognition of “his artistic career and his invaluable contribution to the international projection” of the national culture, who returns to the city with two concerts after almost 20 years of absence.
This recognition “is a token of the sincere affection of a people who are proud of your career, your music and the dignified way in which you have carried our flag before the world”, the mayor of the city, Ulises Rodríguez, told Guerra after presenting him with the distinction, unanimously approved by the Council of Aldermen.
The tribute coincides with the artist’s presentation this Friday and Saturday at the Cibao Stadium in Santiago, the first in almost 20 years in that city and where some 19,000 people are expected per night, according to the concert’s producer, Saymon Diaz, who told the press on Thursday.
The entrepreneur promised “two magical nights” with “lots of technology, lots of special effects and lots of surprises”.
Born in 1957 in Santo Domingo, Juan Luis Guerra is considered one of the most important artists in Latin music, after he and 4.40 achieved international recognition with ‘Ojalá que llueva’ (1989) and ‘Bachata rosa’ (1990).
In his more than four decades of career he has been recognized with numerous awards, including two U.S. Grammys, a dozen Latin Billboard and thirty Latin Grammys, being one of the artists with more of these awards.
Aside from music, reported Agencia EFE, in 2024 he presented his first foray into the world of cinema with the animated film ‘Captain Wasp’, of which he is the producer, directed by his son Jean Guerra and Jonathan Meléndez and featuring the voices, in addition to Juan Luis Guerra himself, of artists such as Luis Fonsi, Juanes, Joy Huerta, Karen Martínez, Adalgisa Pantaleón, José Guillermo, Héctor Aníbal, Amelia Vega, Bianca García and Roger Zayas.
Find out more at ‘QueOnnda.com’.
