| Profile: | Spin off of Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band. "Deputy of love" is an all-time dance-your-ass-off disco classic. Group was produced by August Darnell (later of Kid Creole and the Coconuts).
One reason that, after scoring a major hit, Don Armando's 2nd Ave. Rhumba Band never released another album or single is that it was an off-shoot of Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band. Another is that the lead vocalist, Fonda Rae, was already busy on other projects. The album was a creative one shot deal.
The concept was the brainchild of the late (Don) Armando Bonilla Jr. (8-9-1946/11-16-2002). Bonilla was a percussionist by career choice and was featured on the first Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band album in 1976. Bonilla played percussion and contributed the macho vocals for his concept album. Former Savannah band members Andy Hernandez (producer/arranger) and August Darnell (executive producer) aided him and also introduced him to a new vocalist they were working with.
Fonda Rae, a talented singer from New York, would later surface on Kid Creole & The Coconuts albums for the duo. As a sessionist she would record, and have a variety of hits, under the banners Wish, Rainbow Brown and finally her own name ("Over Like A Fat Rat").
The ZE Records release "Don Armando's 2nd Ave. Rhumba Band" would score one major hit with the 12" single of "Deputy Of Love." The song with it's bouncy melody and clever lyrics seemed tailor made for mixing with another Savannah Band related release at the time, Cory Daye's "Pow Wow."
The album contained some other notable tracks such as "I'm An Indian Too," "How To Handle A Woman" and "Para Ti." However as with most concepts it runs thin after a few tracks. Still it deserves it's recognition for Fonda's outstanding performances and it's Savannah Band appeal.
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