Bonny Cepeda

Bonny Cepeda, born Fernando Antonio Cruz Paz on June 5, 1954, in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, is an influential merengue singer, composer, and arranger celebrated across Latin America, the U.S., and Europe. Inspired by his mother, singer Anan Cepeda, he developed his musical talent early, studying piano in Santo Domingo and later joining Wilfrido Vargas’ group as a pianist before becoming the musical director of Los Hijos del Rey. His work with this group helped shape hits like "La Mulatona" and "Charanga pa’ Luis," which solidified his reputation as a skilled arranger. After departing Los Hijos del Rey, Bonny Cepeda formed Bonny con Kenton and later launched his own orchestra alongside his brother Richie Cepeda. In 1986, he became the first merengue artist nominated for a Grammy with his groundbreaking album Noche de Discotheque. Over his prolific career, he has released numerous hits, including "Ay! Doctor," "El Negro Ahí," and "Noche de Discotheque," and produced over 200 songs. Starting in 2020, Bonny Cepeda served as the Dominican Vice Minister of Culture under President Luis Abinader.