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ORANJESTAD – Legendary Aruban musician, Robert JeanD’or, who shared the studio and the stage with famous household names in Latin music like Juan Luis Guerra and Johnny Ventura, has sadly passed away.
Aruba mourned the passing of one of our greatest musical icons. Robert JeanD’or was beloved in the music scene in Aruba for his talent and versatility.
Robert JeanD’or was born on the 10th of May 1954 in Aruba. He was the son of Francisco Reinier JeanD’or, a Curaçaoan, and Cecilia Bermudez, an Aruban.
According to local sources, JeanD’or’s talent became evident when he was barely 5 or 6 years old, as he would clap to the rhythm of Cuban danzon. His father noticed and encouraged Robert’s interest in music, where he began playing the cuarta and then guitar.
In 1963, his brother Frank took him to play with local band from Tanki Leendert, Blancas Palomitas. For five years, Robert had singing lessons from Rufo Odor, and also took music lessons from Eddy Bennet and attended the Musical Academy of Aruba.
JeanD’or became famous in the ‘70s while part of Los Juveniles with Vito Oduber as manager, together with Vicente Kelly. With Los Juveniles, JeanD’or was crowned King of Tumba during Aruba’s Carnival three times, the first triple crown in the history of Aruba, on 1976, 1977 and 1978. Robert went on to win two more crowns in 1990 and 1991.
At the time, world artists in the Latin scene were performing in Aruba, and as a renowned local musician, Robert would perform with them. This is how the opportunity presented for him to perform on the international stage, joining Johnny Ventura with Los Hijos del Rey, a much loved group in Santo Domingo in 1979. It was with this group that JeanD’or took the stage in Madison Square Garden in New York, singing five times in front of 24,000 people.
In an interview with Mario Diaz for Dominican media, Robert remembered: “It was Johnny Ventura who spoke to me so that I would travel as a musician to the Dominican Republic and my arrival there became a big experience. Once in the Dominican capital, the first recording I did was a commercial advertisement and the person who called me for that job was a very well-respected musician, his name is Jorge Taveras.”
According to Dominican media, around 1985 JeanD’or formed an orchestra in Dominican territory, performing as singer, bass player, composer, and producer. “He was always faithful to merengue and salsa,” according to Mario Diaz, quoted in Dominican website, Listin Diario. “It is very possible that, from his arrival to the Dominican Republic and without prejudice to his other musical qualities, the aspect which gave Robert JeanD’or the most prestige was his work in the recording studio, be it participating in choir where his potent and refined voice stood out, directing the back-up vocalists as well as the soloists, playing bass and arranging songs for different singers and groups.” He recorded in studios in Santo Domingo, New York, Miami and Puerto Rico.
He also played with famous names like Willie Colon and Celia Croes and recorded music for Juan Luis Guerra’s album. He also played in the famous Chilean festival, Viña del Mar, winning Antorcha de Plata with El Conjunto Quisqueya.
In 1990, JeanD’or returned to Aruba a formed his own group, which eventually became Robert JeanD’or y Su Solo Banda Show. He said he made the decision to come back to Aruba because “sometimes your country calls to you.”
Here, JeanD’or stood out with his group as the best local band during the Aruba Jazz & Latin Festival. He won the Den Ambiente Award in 1992, and was crowned ‘Band of the Year’ repeatedly during Aruba’s Carnival.
Tributes poured in from the musical scene in Aruba and abroad, remembering Robert JeanD’or for his talent and skill, but also his humble personality and big heart.
May Robert JeanD’or rest in peace, and may his legend never be forgotten.
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