Don Armando
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"Deputy of Love" (1979) by Don Armando's Second Avenue Rhumba Band.
Don Armando Bonilla (8/9/46-11/16/02) formed the Second Avenue Rhumba Band with vocalist Fonda Rae and scored a #1 hit on the Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart with "Deputy Of Love" in 1979. Bonilla was also a percussionist with Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band. He was the father of Elizabeth Bonilla and Adrianna Bonilla and husband of Billie Burdette de Bonilla.
Don Armando (Sonny) Bonilla was born and raised in East Harlem, NYC, the eldest sibling of a family composed of five sons of a Puerto Rican father and a Colombian mother. After completing a tour of duty with the United States Air Force, he graduated from New York University with a Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science, and later he acquired a Master's Degree from the Manhattan School of Music. One of his younger brothers, Luis Bonilla, played Congas on Larry Harlow's breakout album "Heavy Smokin". Another brother, Nestor is also a professional percussionsist.
See also
- List of Number 1 Dance Hits (United States)
- List of artists who reached number one on the US Dance chart
