Johnny Chocolate —Juan de la Cruz— is a Dominican percussionist who plays the tambora, the two-headed drum at the heart of merengue.

In the studio

He is credited as the tambora player on recordings by a merengue rhythm section that also lists Luis Mojica on congas, Rafael Carrasco on güira, Junior Mayol on saxophones and José Luis Mateo on trumpets. Press notes name him on new songs by Chichi Peralta and Mark B, and on a release by the salsa group Chiquito Team Band.

With Juan Luis Guerra

A video published by a Dominican media page presents him as the tambora player of Juan Luis Guerra’s 4.40, playing the traditional second pattern of merengue.

Legacy

Fellow musicians describe him in public messages as an outstanding tambora player; one calls him the most complete tamborero of all time. His work is documented mainly through recording credits.