Bonny Cepeda

by Craig HarrisThe first merengue artist to be nominated for a Grammy award, in 1985, Bonny Cepeda (born: Fernando Antonio Cruz Paz) is one of the most successful dance musicians in the Dominican Republic. A former member of Wilfredo Vargass orchestra, Cepeda has led such groups as Los Hijos Del Rey (Children of the Sun), Bonny Con Keaton and Bonny Cepeda and his Orquestra. In addition to recording more than thirty albums on his own, Cepeda has produced recordings by Fernando Villanova, Willie Berrios, El Grupo Chantelle, Grupo Chevi, Proyecto Punto, Sergio Vargas, Rikarena and Llave Maestra. The son of vocalist Anan Cepeda, and the uncle of multi-instrumentalist Richard Cepeda, Cepeda studied piano at a local music school, Villa Consuelo, as youngster. He continued his studies at the National Conservatory in Santo Domingo.