Jonathan Dwayne

Johnatan Dwayne is a musician, composer, and artist who introduced the musical concept of Art Rock in Puerto Rico. In the '70s, Dwayne was still known as John Dwayne Jimenez, and competed for a spot in the disbanding teen group La Pandilla, a precursor to Menudo. In the 1980s he belonged to the musical group Words Four Two, singing lead (while often wearing a skirt) and composing. The dominating musical styles in Puerto Rico at the time were Salsa and Merengue but the group's release of "Somethin' in the Air" was a hit, and made Art Rock a competing style. This hit was followed by "Society Killed by Who". They had one contravertial song "I Want to be a Woman" which had many Latinos questioning his sexuality. In 1991, after the group broke up, Dwayne composed for others, creating the Spanish version of "Pocket" for Ednita Nazario, and "Metamorfosis". His first gold record as composer was for "Un Corazon Hecho Pedazos" (meaning "A Heart Broken to Pieces"). He won the Tu Musica Award and also an award from Billboard and ASCAP. Nazario's recording of his "Pasiones" ("Passions") went platinum. Commissions followed from additional Puerto Rican singers, including Lunna and Jailene Cintron. Dwayne won the Silver Ermita award, in Colombia, as a vocal soloist. Two of his works as a painter, Personajes and Seres Desudos, have been exhibited in various expositions. Dwayne was part of a Celia Cruz art commemorization soon after the singers death. In 2000, he made his debut as actor in the soap opera Hombres de Honor (Men of Honor). He has participated in over 20 soap operas so far. In 2004, he made his American stage debut in Washington, D.C., as Don Luis in de la Barca's La Dama Duende ("The Phantom Lady"). One of the outfits he wore during his days as a member of the group Word Four Two is currently on display at the Hard Rock Cafe in Old San Juan.