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Fernando (FRED) Bonanni Jr. MD
Freddie B was born on October 31, 1961. He is a first generation Italian American born and raised in the Philadelphia area. He graduated High school at William Tennent Senior High school, Warminster, Pennsylvania in 1979. Immediately after High school Fred joined the United States Air force at age 18. With very few options and even less direction Fred joined the armed forces and became a young father by age 18. Early in his life he was inspired by two very important events. The first was his new born daughter (Amanda) who inspired him to change his direction. The second was a woman who had entered an Air Force hospital in Illinois after being shot 22 times. She was eight months pregnant and dying. Fred was on duty that night. He watched as the surgeons saved her and her baby. She left the hospital three months later in a wheel chair with her baby in her arms. Amanda became his drive the woman his inspiration to become a doctor.
Fred graduated from Southern Illinois University while in the Air force on four year tour. He attended University of Pennsylvania pre-med program and graduated with honors. He attended Hahanemann University Medical School in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and graduated the MD program in 1990. He did his general surgery residence at Lehigh Valley Hospital and Trauma Center in Allentown, Pennsylvania. He entered private practice in Reading Pennsylvania in 1995. He specialized in general surgery with an emphasis on minimally invasive Laparoscopic Surgery. In 2006 he returned home and is now the Director, of the Surgical Weight Loss center at Abington Memorial Hospital. He has seven children (all girls) whose ages range from 8 to 27. Amanda, Angela, Christina, Francesca, Maria, Brianna, Bianca. He has a great family and an incredible wife (Diana) who keeps it all together. His family inspires him to strive for excellence in family, Surgery and music.
As a young child Fred lived in an all Italian neighborhood where Italian folk music was a weekend pass time. In his home almost every weekend at age 5 he was inspired by his great uncle Anidio, who played the guitar and his father who played the accordion. He was mesmerized by the music and knew every song. All kinds of people would gather home made instruments like a stand up base made from a wash tube. Even his mom would sometimes stroke a wash board to accompany a song while others danced into the night.
His first inspiration to play the guitar came from his God Father Carmen. He played an amazing jazz guitar that left an impression on him at age 6. As early as age eight he was influenced by the Beatles. His favorite song was She Loves You (Beatles). He would play this tune endlessly on a plastic guitar his mother bought him at a five and dime store. At age 11 he received his first guitar from his uncle Graziano. For a short time Fred and his family lived in Australia with his uncle. His uncle knew he was sad about leaving home and bought him a guitar to cheer him up. In 1973 Fred and his family returned to America. The guitar was lost in the move back home. He was not inspired to pick up a guitar again until his daughter was born in September of 1980. Fred wanted to learn how to play the guitar to sing his baby to sleep. He picked up a guitar for thirteen dollars. He took three lessons but he could not afford it on an Air force salary of 400 dollars per month. He wanted to learn Danny’s Song (Kenny Loggins) because he was convinced Amanda was going to be a boy. He listened to the song over and over again until he learned it. When Amanda was born it was the only song he could play. He changed the words so it would fit a girl and played it to her at night when he could sneak into her room. He was embarrassed to play and sing in front of anyone accept Amanda for a long time. Two years later he toured in a world wide talent competition for the Air force.
In 1986 Fred decided on medical school and later a general surgery residency. With the exception of a rare occasion Fred would only play at night to his kids. His daughter Christina could not go to sleep for a long time with out a serenade.
After 12 years he decided to pick up the guitar again. This time it was an acoustic guitar and he was solo. He started with open mic nights in the Berks County area. He was recruited by several club owners to play regular gigs in Berks County area. He developed a large following of patients, nurses, friends, and fellow doctors. In time his gigs became large parties. He has been doing gigs about every six weeks for almost eight years.
He moved back to the Philadelphia area in June of 2006. He continues to do gigs in local clubs and other special events about every six weeks. He practices regularly with his twin girls who are now almost eight years old. Brianna’s favorite song is Another Day (Paul McCartney). Bianca’s favorite song is Your Beautiful (James Blunt). Francesca (age 12) likes to occasionally do a duo with Dad with songs like Picture (Kid Rock) and Lean on Me (Bill Withers). Maria (age 10) likes to listen to Dad and sisters and play piano. He is inspired by his friends and family. He continues to learn new songs but his gigs are deeply rooted in the classic rock and roll of the sixties and seventies. His greatest musical influences are Elvis Presley, the Beatles, The Eagles, Elton John, Billy Joel, Eric Clapton, and Queen.