Don Armando Bonilla

Who was Don Armando Bonilla?

Don Armando Bonilla 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. Don Armando 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 Columbia University. 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. He was the father of Elizabeth Bonilla and Adrianna Bonilla and husband of Billie Burdette de Bonilla.

He wrote a treatment for a sitcom called "Cowboy Tito" while living in Hollywood and was producing a musical called "The Love of a Jukebox Hero". He co-wrote "Mambo Queen" with L.A. composer Aaron Loo.

The Second Avenue Rhumba Band's song, "Goin' to a Showdown," and "Winter Love " was featured in the 1980 horror film Maniac.