Juan Luis Guerra has created a synthesis of slinky bachata and posh merengue rhythms, and when he performs it live, he brings a slice of the Dominican Republic's culture to the stage. As one of the DR's biggest musical exports, the suave crooner has captivated legions of fans with his sophisticated folk formula. He's joined forces on stage with some of the best, including Sting, The Rolling Stones, Paul Simon and Maná.

Juan Luis Guerra in Concert

Juan Luis Guerra Seijas was born in the Dominican Republic in 1957, and like love at first sight, Guerra felt an instant affinity for his country's native genres. Back then, bachata and merengue ran in different circles — the former was considered crass and lowbrow, while the latter would be dubbed the national identity of DR by decree. The artist launched his singing career in the late '80s, but it wasn't until 1990 with Bachata Rosa that he catapulted bachata to global prominence. He elevated the genre by adding a tinge of merengue into his musical recipe — Guerra is widely considered the first to do so — and earned a Grammy for it. He kept the sonic elegance going strong, but the racy double entendres, traditionally a characteristic of bachata lyrics, got the song "Burbujas de Amor" banned in several countries. Today, "Burbujas" is recognized by Rolling Stone as one of Latin pop's greatest songs of all time. With over a dozen studio albums that also dabble in rock, salsa and even gospel, the legendary performer proves that his creativity is limitless In 2019, the Billboard Latin Music Awards honored Guerra with the Lifetime Achievement Award for his artistic excellence.