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Writer's pictureNicole S. Norton-Evans

OMG…We Found The ‘Bubbling Brown Sugar’ Kids From ‘What’s Happening’


If you are a fan of What’s Happening you probably remember the infamous Bubbling Brown Sugar kids a.k.a. The Givens Kids, who had everybody two-stepping from side to side singing with them in front the TV back in the day. They were the four siblings who only needed one guest spot on the show to make a lifelong lasting impression on the hearts of millions.



Audrey Givens



The female in the group is Audrey Givens and she is still actively performing and creating music. In recent years, she was actually a contestant on the BET singing competition TV Show, Sunday Best, which was hosted by gospel legend, Kirk!Franklin!


Audrey posted a pic on her Facebook page documenting the time she was auditioning for the show, only to be shocked when Kirk Franklin did an impromptu performance of Bubbling Brown Sugar She said he knew all of the words.


Nowadays Audrey is using her talent and passion for music education to offer scholarship opportunities to young kids through her scholarship program, Givens Back Scholarship.


She is currently raising funds for it through GoFundMe and you can donate to the program through this link. Audrey is also still performing and gracing many audiences across the country with her beautiful voice. Hopefully we wll get to hear some new music from her soon, but in the meantime you can check her out on Facebook at facebook.com/audreygivens.



Derrick Givens


One of the Givens brothers is still singing professionally. This is where it started for Derrick Givens. Derrick has a new single out on iTunes titled "If You Could See" so be sure to check him out. Derrick is now married and has a son and a daughter.



Anthony Givens


This is Anthony Givens. As far as we know, he is no longer involved in music, but he is married and has a daughter and beautiful wife, Audrey.






The group also traveled throughout the country performing and singing as they were lovingly called Little Gladys Knight and the Pee Wee Pips. Tony along with his family also performed on Stevie Wonder’s Songs in the Key Life Album, sang and acted in the Broadway play entitled “God Bless the Child” alongside then child actress Janet Jackson and also performed on the soundtrack for the movie “The Wiz” starring Michael Jackson and Diana Ross.  The group later went on to release several musical recordings for Venture Records, JP Records and finally the Sugar Hill Record Label.


Antonio Givens


Antonio Baines Givens affectionately called Tony was born on December 31, 1964, in Orlando Florida.  He along with his mother and six siblings moved to Newark, NJ at the age of 2 years old. Antonio attended Harriet Tubman and Camden Middle Schools in Newark during his childhood years. The family later moved to East Orange, NJ where he attended Vernon L. Davey, Jr. Middle School and East Orange High School from 1979 to 1983.


During Tony’s early childhood he, along with two of his brothers and younger sister,  were known as the “The Givens Kids” ; they appeared on the nationally televised sitcom show titled “What’s Happening.” The group also traveled throughout the country performing and singing as they were lovingly called Little Gladys Knight and the Pee Wee Pips.


Antonio received his angelic wings at 4:00am on September 3, 2018. He is survived by his mother, Mattie Givens of East Orange, NJ; ex-wife, Senay Dillon of Bloomfield NJ; children,  Amir and Ashlee Givens, Michael, Christopher and Brittani Dillon; siblings, Edwin Givens  and wife Joanne Givens of Dallas, TX, Lorenzo Givens and fiance Linda Willis of Union NJ,  Cecilia Givens of Paterson NJ, Anthony Givens and wife Audrey Brown-Givens of East Orange, NJ, Derrick Givens and wife Kimberly Givens of West Orange, NJ and Audrey Givens of East Orange, NJ; nieces,  Kiwana Givens Harris, Kelsey, Chanel  and Deborah Givens; nephews, Lucious and Lamar Randleman, Jabreel , Kareem and Justin Givens and also a host of cousins, dear friends and loved ones.

Below is a recent photo of Antonio



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