In a New York city that was once a city of dreams, it's a place where many dreamers dream of a bigger, brighter, better life. And while a lot has changed since Soul Music first invaded the borough, the people still live on, sharing in the glory that is Soul.
(Photo: Givanni's on the Boardwalk) Givanni’s on the Boardwalk is a soul food restaurant and music venue that opened in August of 1990 in Coney Island’s Ocean Parkway, right in the midst of the neighborhood’s famous boardwalk. Today, Givanni’s holds a special place in the hearts and minds of thousands of Coney Island locals, thanks to its famous fried chicken and to its “Coney Island Sound System,” which in the 1990s, became the envy of the world’s music heads and producers. Founded by Gwen B. Fuchs, the then 19-year-old, the restaurant grew into a popular spot for soulful bands like The Funkies, and an all-time great soundtrack that had a little something for everyone. “It was amazing to see how it grew from a local bar into a national landmark,” said Fuchs. “Our goal was always to take care of the neighborhood we helped build.” Now, three decades after opening its doors, Soul Music has come full circle. This year, Givanni’s is celebrating its 10-year anniversary, marking a time of musical change, from a hip-hop-focused restaurant to a spot for all genres, including a growing R&B lineup, as well as new owner and restaurateur Michael C. Liguori. Soul in Coney Island – The Past If you don’t believe it, just visit Coney Island’s Boardwalk. If you want to hear the music of the ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s, just wander a few blocks. There are many bands out there, some of which have been around for decades, and you can find what you’re looking for. That was until Givanni’s opened in 2003. That year, it served as a refuge, a safe place for music enthusiasts. It became an open-air jam, where some people would play their instruments on the tables. Onstage was a man who took great pride in the music coming from the restaurant’s sound system. He had a passion for soul music, so much so that when the legendary Atlantic Records’ president, Lenny Waronker, heard about the place, he thought it would be perfect for his music mogul pal, Nile Rodgers. When the famed singer and guitarist of Chic opened Givanni’s, it became a must-visit restaurant. The opening was so warmly received that people began to refer to the restaurant as “The House that Nile Built.” That’s how it was back then. People gathered to enjoy the music, relax and just have a good time. It didn’t matter if they were African American, Puerto Rican, Italian, Korean, Jewish, Asian or other. Everyone was welcome. The Music Changed Lenny Waronker was wrong. While Rodgers did play there often, not all of his famous friends were fans. The reason they weren’t is because the food was so good. The restaurant became more about the food than the music. There were a few bands that came out of the restaurant, though. Among them was an obscure band called The Whiffs. Its members were all from Coney Island, and had some talent. They went on to release a great album in 2007 called, “Live From Givanni’s!” The restaurant also was the location for most of the famous “Mashed Potatoes” sessions that drummer, Robert Fisher, put together with the band. The Restaurant Changed A series of unfortunate events caused the restaurant to fold. In 2010, the fire department told Waronker that the restaurant would have to close. Since the restaurant couldn’t afford the remodeling it required to meet the regulations, the restaurant would have to close forever. It would be demolished to make way for a new shopping plaza. The fire department gave Waronker some options to save the restaurant, but he and his partner, Dan Cislo, rejected all of them. Givanni’s was done. Fortunately, an online fan base helped the restaurant find a new owner. A restaurant chain called Hooters took over the property in 2015, and is now in charge of Givanni’s. Famous Musicians Who Worked at Givanni’s Givanni’s was open for over 25 years, and saw hundreds of musicians working there over the years. Some of them are below, along with some of the music they recorded there. Barry Manilow In 1969, Barry Manilow made a couple of good records at Givanni’s, including “Could It Be Magic” and “Looks Like We Made It.” He also appeared at Givanni’s in the early 1970s. Tom Jones Tom Jones had several songs recorded at Givanni’s in the late 1970s, including “The Right to Rock,” “The Other Man,” and “When I Close My Eyes.” His brother, David, played the tuba on “The Other Man” and the song made the English charts. Jerry Garcia Band The Jerry Garcia Band recorded their first album at Givanni’s in 1973. It was titled “In the Sky.” Here are two songs they recorded at Givanni’s: David Grisman David Grisman’s band, the David Grisman Quintet, recorded two songs at Givanni’s, including “I Can’t Make You Love Me.” David would go on to play with G.E. Smith and Frank Zappa. Steve Winwood Steve Winwood recorded some songs at Givanni’s in 1978, including “Givanni’s Groove.” The song got a mention in Rolling Stone as one of Steve Winwood’s greatest hits. It was included in the 2009 box set “The Best of Steve Winwood” Tom Petty Tom Petty played acoustic on “Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around,” “Cumberland Blues,” “Hard to Handle” and “Southern Accents.” He also jammed with his band, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, during these sessions. Here are two songs he recorded at Givanni’s: The Clampers The band, The Clampers, recorded a session at Givanni’s. They played some R&B and some country. Bob Dylan Bob Dylan played his acoustic on “You Ain’t Goin’ Nowhere,” “Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right,” and “Just Like a Woman.” Tom Jones Tom Jones recorded a session at Givanni’s in 1975. His song was called “The Day They Drove Old Dixie Down.” He also played a song he called “Come Back (Where You Used to Live).” Here are the complete lyrics to that song: Come back where you used to live Come back, come back, where you used to live Come back, come back, come back, come back Where you used to live Come back where you used to live Come back, come back, where you used to live Come back, come back, come back, come back Where you used to live Don’t know what I’d do without you The Clampers The Clampers recorded a session at Givanni’s. The band played three songs: “I Don’t Know,” “You Ain’t Goin’ Nowhere,” and “When Someone’s on Your Mind.” Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers recorded a session at Givanni’s in 1974. They played seven songs: “You’re gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go,” “Don’t Pull Your Love,” “Hickory Wind,” “Don’t Fall Back,” “I Need To Know,” “When You Got The Money,” and “I Won’t Back Down.” Jim Gilstrap Jim Gilstrap recorded a session at Givanni’s in 1976. The session featured six songs: “The Ballad Of El Good” “My Time” “Just Like Me,” “A Time For Us,” “The Last Thing On My Mind” and “The Way.” Beverly Kenney In 1978, Beverly Kenney recorded a session at Givanni’s. The session featured three songs: “The Oldest Thing,” “You Looked Like You Were Made For Love,” and “If I Could Have, If I Could Have.”
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