Bonny Fernando needs no introduction or write up. With his uni-born talents for singing, he has received the recognition of multi cultural audiences. With his artistic and mastering ability for singing he has found his way into hearts of people who appreciate singing both Sinhala and English. Bonny Fernando demonstrated his capability for singing from young age. His singing career opens over a period of three decades. Bonny who hails from Mallawapitiya, Kurunegala. Sri Lanka is yet another versatile sings the country produced. His rhythmic style of singing of both Sinhala and English songs is a significant contribution. Bilinguality in singing in a multicultural environment in countries like Australia, Sri Lanka, Germany, Nashville in Chicago is a very welcome ability indeed.
In the early days of his career, he became very popular because of his versatility of presentation of melodic songs of Jim Reeves. During that time his audiences and critics developed a habit to identify Bonny as Jim Reeves of Sri Lanka. This identification was very appropriate as Bonny exhibited a musically disciplined skill and aptitude to sing with a western and country orientation. His needless to mention here that, it helped him always to win away young talent contests in Sri Lanka. Ceylon Observer Talent Search was a significant one in that regard. With his remarkable and enchanting ways of singing, as a young artist he captured the musical audiences of Sri Lanka quickly. This made it possible for him to become the lead vocalist with the "FREEDOMS", Kurunagela, Sri Lanka. With the group, Bonny gave a large number of presentations in all parts of the country over a period of time. Sri Lanka broadcasting Corporation recognised Bonny' popularity and versatility as a western singer and opened it's airwaves regularly for him to perform his audiences with numbers of Jim Reeves, Perry Como, Matt Honroe and Tom Jones. Later he appeared an Independent Telecommunication Network (ITN) of Sri Lanka. "Variety Fare", of ITN featured Bonny and gave another rare opportunity for Sri-Lanka to enjoy the evergreens with his silverly voice. In Sri Lanka Bonny also sang with well-known musical groups such as "Moonstones", "Esquare Set" and "Claude and the Sensations". The time Bonny spent in Germany made him an international artist. In Germanyhe sang with the resident bands at Gravenbruch Hotel and Sonnenschien Floating Hotel. He is well remembered there as the Sri Lankan singer who popularised "BAILA" a form of Sri Lankan Kaffaringa music and singing. It said that many young Germans in Frankfurt did not want to miss Bonny singing, "Baila" mainly Chuda Manike at these hotels and made it a point to join him in all occasions.
Bonny has several records and audiotapes to his credit, "Namal Wasanthaya". Which he released recently is available on CD as well. The songs he sings by himself and with Jeevarani Wijeseana have been well received by their audiences. The song, "Sri Lanka", in which Bonny presents a very good example of his commitment to sing in a manner to establish ideas to listeners. This song enables us to think of the need for all community to work together for peace and harmony in Sri Lank, which has a valuable culture, and age old value system. In Australia Bonny has established himself as a popular artist. He took part in almost all musical presentations and evenings organised by the Sinhala Cultural Forum, The Sri-Lanka Association of NSW, Tamil Sports Club NSW, and Sri-Lankan Council of Australia featured Bonny at "Madhu Rasanga" at Joan Sutherland Conservatorium of music, Penrith . He has stepped forward in singing Hindi to add to his Sinhala and English in the Tamil Sports Club NSW Show and will be adding Hindi to his music career. It should be mentioned that several R.S.L clubs in NSW have been depending on Bonny to please their members, at their musical gatherings because of his innate skills of singing (Country and Western songs). Bonny has taken steps to popularise Sri-Lankan art of singing and culture in multicultural Australia. His engagements with Carnivale and Aurora festivals helped the Sri-Lankan community to make a noted presence at those important festivals. It helped to acclaimed recognition by other communities to Sri-Lankan art forms. Bonny Fernando as a vocalised has a lyrical voice. Bonny has been made more humble by success people have always shared the happiness he has given by singing either Western or Sinhala songs. He should be given all the encouragement to demonstrate his abilities and talents further, to accomplish his mission as a vocalist. At the moment he is doing recordings with two leading Australian music producers who have made a number one hit with Melissa Tock. The song he has produced is "So you win again" (Hot Chocolate), a original called, "Bring you my heart" and is currently also producing a Sinhala-English dancy song which is still untitled.
