Born in the rural countryside near Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic, Joan Soriano fashioned his first guitar from a tin can and fishing line and has never looked back. Soriano plays steel string bachata with equal parts romance and grit. The Afro-infused rhythm that permeates his music has made him a favorite among dancers. As a boy Joan received little formal education. The seventh of 15 children, he dropped out of school to help farm the family's land. But Joan’s destiny took a turn when he and his siblings formed a band nicknamed “Los Candes” after their father Candelario. They used home-made instruments to perform at neighborhood events until at age 13 Joan hitched a ride to Santo Domingo, where he went on to nurture his talent working with some of the island’s greatest bacheteros. Bachata is essential to Dominican culture and draws upon a variety of influences from Africa, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean. A practitioner of palo and gaga, Joan blends Afro-Dominican sacred traditions with bachata, imparting his music with down to earth spirit and dance-ability. Joan preserves bachata’s roots and expands on them. He is a rare combination of new and authentic. Joan is the star of Adam Taub’s documentary, The Duke of Bachata. He also was featured in Alex Wolfe’s documentary, Santo Domingo Blues, and is on The Rough Guide’s Bachata compilation. Joan performs regularly throughout North America and Europe. His music and dance videos are Youtube favorites.