Dominican merengue star Johnny Ventura dies at 81
CBSN
Merengue star Johnny Ventura died on Wednesday in Dominican Republic at 81years old. Ventura, who was known as "El Caballo Mayor" – the great horse – was recognized for modernizing merengue, a Dominican style of music and dance popular throughout Latin America.
The country's Ministry of Culture posted about the star's death on Twitter, writing: "We join in the pain that overwhelms his family in these difficult times. His legacy will live forever in his songs and Dominican culture." Ventura, a singer, songwriter, bandleader and arranger had several hit songs, including "Patacón pisao" and "Capullo y sorullo." The Latin Grammy-winning artist also received a lifetime achievement award from the awards show in 2006, the Associated Press reports.Ashley White received her earliest combat action badge from the United States Army soon after the first lieutenant arrived in Afghanistan. The silver military award, recognizing soldiers who've been personally engaged by an attacker during conflict, was considered an achievement in and of itself as well as an affirming rite of passage for the newly deployed. White had earned it for using her own body to shield a group of civilian women and children from gunfire that broke out in the midst of her third mission in Kandahar province. All of them survived. She never mentioned the badge to anyone in her battalion.