Van McCoy(1940-1979)

Singer, songwriter and music producer Van Allen Clinton McCoy was born on January 6, 1940, in Washington, DC. He sang with the Metropolitan Baptist Church choir when he was a kid. At age 12 he began writing his own songs and performing in local amateur shows along with his older brother, Norman Jr. He was the lead singer of the doo-wop group The Starlighters, which recorded the novelty dance record "The Birdland" in 1956. After The Starlighters broke up McCoy studied psychology for two years at Howard University before dropping out and moving to Philadelphia.

He began his own label, Rockin' Records, and released the single "Hey Mr. DJ" in 1959. This in turn led to McCoy being hired as a staff writer and A&R representative for Scepter Records. Throughout the early to mid=60s Van penned numerous hit songs for such artists as The Shirelles ("Stop the Music"), Jackie Wilson ("I Get the Sweetest Feeling"), Gladys Knight & The Pips ("Giving Up"), Betty Everett ("Getting Mighty Crowded"), Ruby & The Romantics ("When You're Young and in Love"), 'Brenda & The Tabulations' ("Right on the Tip of My Tongue"), Chris Bartley ("The Sweetest Thing This Side of Heaven") and Barbara Lewis ("Baby, I'm Yours"). In 1966 McCoy recorded the solo album "Nighttime Is a Lonely Time" for Columbia Records (the album was produced by Mitch Miller_. He started his own short-lived label, Vando, in 1967. In the early 1970s Van collaborated with producer and songwriter Charles Kipps on many sessions, including David Ruffin's acclaimed 1975 Motown comeback album "Who I Am." In addition, McCoy arranged several hits for the soul group The Stylistics, formed his own orchestra called Soul City Symphony and, with singers Faith Hope & Charity, recorded several albums and gave many live performances.

In 1975 Van scored an enormous smash hit with the groovy disco instrumental "The Hustle;" the song peaked at #1 on the Billboard charts in July 1975, sold well over a million copies and won the Grammy Award for Best Pop Instrumental Performance. Stunned by the surprise success of "The Hustle" and unhappy with his newfound status as a disco hitmaker, McCoy nonetheless recorded a few follow-up disco songs and albums that failed to replicate the substantial success of "The Hustle." He returned to writing and producing material for other artists for the remainder of his career.

Van McCoy died of a sudden massive heart attack on July 6, 1979 in Englewood, New Jersey; he was only 39 years old.