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.
