The Nassau Guardian
Music teacher retires after 40 years of service
A teacher from C.R. Walker Secondary School is being recognized at his retirement for reaching 40 years of service in the profession.
Fred M. Munnings was born in Rolleville, Exuma on June 25, 1953 to Bertram Livingston Munnings and Elvise Miller. He attended the local school for a short while, as his parents soon relocated to New Providence. It was there that Munnings became interested in music, in particular the guitar.
His father played the guitar and sang, while young Freddie watched and learned to play a few tunes. At the age of 12 he and several friends formed a singing group that sang in the yard, on the streets and even in the local Church of God on Minnie Street.
In 1971, Munnings graduated from St. Anne’s High School, Fox Hill. He was then hired by the Ministry of Education to teach and play guitar at Uriah McPhee Primary School. In 1973, Munnings enrolled at the Bahamas Teachers College, and there he joined a band called the College Band. In 1974, he became the leader of the band. The band brought joy and happiness to many prospective teachers and lecturers, especially on Friday nights when everyone wanted to “let down their hair” and get away from book work.
In 1975, Munnings graduated from the Bahamas Teachers College and was posted at L.W. Young Secondary School. It was there that he became involved in many activities. He was a teacher and basketball and track and field coach. In basketball he won several championships. In track and field he coached a famous Bahamian icon, Pauline Davis. He was also a member of the Junior Red Cross Link no. 3. He provided songs for the group to sing at special occasions. It was also here that he wrote the song “Who Will Lead The Children”. This song became popular, as the group used it as its theme song.
During this time Munnings was a member of several local bands where he played guitar and sang. He played at the Elks Lodge Hall on Baillou Hill Road North, the exclusive Buena Vista on Delancey Street, the Vintage Club, Rose Town Café, Crystal Palace and the Radisson hotel. Munnings currently plays at various establishments throughout New Providence with a band called “Bounce”.
In 1997, he recorded his first single called “Peace and Love”, a song he wrote a few years back while singing with the group Stars of Youth.
In 2000, Munnings recorded his first album featuring the song “Who Will Lead The Children”. The video featured teachers and students of C.R. Walker Senior High School. In 2006, Munnings introduced two 12th grade female students, Kerline Octave and Dentera Jackson, to a song he wrote called “Hold on Believer”. He also had a few more recordings done with other students of C.R. Walker, namely Keisha and Opal Strachan.
Munnings is married to the former Deborah Smith. The couple has two children, Chad and Cheala Munnings. He retired at the end of this school year.
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