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Juan Luis Guerra 4.40

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

Juan Luis Guerra 4.40 · Juan Luis Guerra is a Dominican musician, singer, composer and producer, born in 1957. He first studied philosophy and literature in Santo Domingo, then guitar and music theory at the national conservatoire. He then went to the Berklee College of Music in Boston, where he graduated in jazz composition in 1982. Back in the Dominican Republic he formed a band with local musicians.

Music and breakthrough

His first album, Soplando from 1984, was released under the name Juan Luis Guerra y 440. The number refers to the tuning note A440, in Spanish Cuatro Cuarenta. According to Guerra, that first album was based on jazz from his time at Berklee and was not intended as a commercial hit. After that he began writing more merengues. Ojalá Que Llueva Café from 1989 is regarded as one of his most acclaimed songs.

Influence

Guerra won 31 Latin Grammys, three Grammys and a Latin Billboard Music Award. In 2010 he won three Latin Grammys, including Album of the Year. He is seen as the one who made bachata known worldwide, although his bachata sounds closer to the bolero and with melodies and harmonies derived from bossa nova. He does not limit himself to one style: merengue, salsa, cumbia, pop, jazz, funk, hip hop and religious music all appear. His lyrics are poetic and socially engaged. He is one of the best-known Latin American artists of recent decades.

Listening

Listening tip. Listen to Ojalá Que Llueva Café and notice the combination of a cheerful merengue rhythm with a lyric about poverty and hope. Can you also hear the jazz influence in the harmony?

Discography

Studio albums

See also

Categories: ArtistsMerengue