Van McCoy

Van Allen Clinton McCoy (January 6, 1940 - July 6, 1979) was a music producer, musician, and songwriter who had a massive hit with the disco song "The Hustle" in 1975, after writing hits for soul groups and musicians like Gladys Knight and the Pips, and Barbara Lewis in the '60s, and early '70s.

Related Topics:
January 6 - 1940 - July 6 - 1979 - Disco - The Hustle - 1975 - Gladys Knight and the Pips

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Van was born on January 6, 1940, in Washington, D.C. the second child of Norman S. McCoy, Sr. and Lillian Ray, and grew up there. He would attend the neighborhood public schools, sing in the church and school choirs, perform on local programs with his brother, Norman, Jr. and spent time at the family piano, while growing up. Norman, Jr. and Van formed a doo wop combo called the Starlighters with two friends, while in high school and issued the single, "The Birdland," a novelty dance record, in 1956, gaining some interest, that led to them touring with drummer Vi Burnsides. Marriage and other things would eventually cause the group to disband in the mid-50s.

Related Topics:
January 6 - 1940 - Washington, D.C. - Doo wop - 1956

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McCoy entered Howard University to study psychology, some time later, only to drop out after two years to move to Philadelphia, where he forming his own label, Rockin' Records, released his first single "Hey Mr. DJ" under it, in 1959. This single gained the attention of Scepter Records owner Florence Greenberg, who hired McCoy as a staff writer and A&R Representative. As a writer there, McCoy penned his first hit, "Stop the Music," for the female vocal group, the Shirelles, in 1962. His real songwriting success, though, came after signing on with producers Jerry Lieber and Mike Stoller as a writer with their Tiger and Daisy labels. McCoy would go on to write a string of hits as the '60s progressed, while with them. He also penned the cult classic "You're Gonna Make Me Love You," for his then-girlfriend Kendra Spotswood during that period.

Related Topics:
Howard University - Psychology - 1959 - Scepter Records - The Shirelles - 1962 - Jerry Lieber - Mike Stoller - Cult classic

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In 1966, McCoy recorded a solo LP for Columbia Records titled Nighttime Is a Lonely Time, and a year later, started his own short-lived label, Vando, as well as his own production company, VMP (Van McCoy Productions). In the early '70s, McCoy began a long and acclaimed collaboration with songwriter and producer Charles Kipps, and arranged several hits for the soul group, the Stylistics, before releasing a solo LP, Soul Improvisations, in 1972, which wasn't a success. He also formed his own orchestra, Soul City Symphony, and with singers Faith, Hope and Charity, produced several albums and gave many performances during that time. In 1975, to low expectations, McCoy released another LP, Disco Baby for the Avco label.

Related Topics:
1966 - LP - Columbia Records - The Stylistics - 1972 - 1975

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Unexpectedly, the single "The Hustle" from the album, written about the dance of the same name and recorded last for the album, went to the top of the Billboard pop charts, and won a Grammy. McCoy, then branded a disco hitmaker, never repeated the success of the song, and after a series of follow-up albums (From Disco to Love (1975 reissue of Soul Improvisations), The Disco Kid (1975), The Real McCoy (1976), Rhythms of the World (1976), My Favourite Fantasy (1978), Lonely Dancer (1979), and Sweet Rhythm (1979) of which only the first few sold somewhat well and spawned no hits, returned to producing and writing. He died from a heart attack in Englewood, New Jersey, on July 6, 1979.

Related Topics:
The Hustle - Billboard - Grammy - Disco - 1975 - 1976 - 1978 - 1979 - Heart attack - Englewood - New Jersey - July 6

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