While the news of Guerra's conversion to Christianity in the late '90s may have reached fewer music fans in the United States than had similar changes of heart by Bob Dylan or Cat Stevens, many nonetheless feared the worst - that the man once hailed as the (secular) prophet of Dominican music would give it all up for God. But Para Ti is bound to make all but the most stalwartly areligious feel a whole lot better. Juan Luis Guerra (born Jin Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic) is the most internationally recognized Dominican singer/songwriter. His pop style of Merengue and Bolero and Afro-pop/Latin fusion have garnered him considerable success outside the Dominican Republic. Juan Luis Guerra is sometimes associated with the popular Dominican.

The name was chosen by Guerra's brother, José Gilberto, who used to sit and watch them rehearse. The band takes its name from the universal tuning pattern of the A note, 440 Hertz. In time, he found he missed his native Dominican Republic and so returned to experiment with blending local African-influenced music, folk songs and jazz with his group 440. One of his instructors then helped Guerra get into the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Massachusetts and the many genres of jazz. Initially, he taught himself the basics of guitar playing, but after winning a contest, attended the National Conservatory on a scholarship.

This album incorporated more of the increasingly popular African soukous music. Musically, Guerra changed directions again for his 1995 effort Fogaraté. Still, he must be given credit for his sincerity and interest in improving things in his oft-troubled homeland. His next album, Areito, caused controversy in the Dominican Republic for speaking out against social injustices that the desperately poor felt Guerra had never personally experienced. The album was particularly popular in Los Angeles and soon Guerra and his band were touring. In 1991, he released Bachata Rose which became a smash hit throughout the Americas and won Guerra his first Grammy in the U.S.

He appeared alongside a heavyweight roster of stars at the Berklee College of Music's 50th anniversary concert - Herbie Hancock, Michel Camilo, Pat Metheny, and Paul Simon were also on the bill. Guerra once again toured relentlessly. The single 'Las Avispas' won in the Best Gospel Pop and Tropical Merengue categories - the first time in the award ceremony's history that any song had won in two categories simultaneously. He won two awards at the 2005 Grammys. The album was greeted with widespread critical and popular acclaim. He emerged in 2004 with Para Ti, his first album of new studio material in six years.

In 2010, he appeared as a duet partner on Enrique Iglesias' single 'Cuando Me Enamoro' and appeared in the music video. He won three Latin Grammys for the album. It entered the Billboard Latin charts at number one and remained there for four weeks. His next album, La Llave de Mi Corazón, was released in the early spring of 2007.

Juan Luis Guerra Soldado