Richie Ciavolino was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1960. His father, Bob “Chevy” Ciavolino, was a drummer in Italian street bands in New York and had a great singing voice. The elder Ciavolino performed and booked acts for the Italian Feast of San Gennaro, Mayor Ed Koch’s birthday, weddings and many other gigs.

Richie says his dad was one of the last Rat Pack-style musicians. There were always musicians in the house, and Richie started taking music lessons when he was 9. By the time he was in junior high, Ciavolino was playing with the school jazz band and was in an after-school band called The Brooklyn Sprats.