Van McCoy
Van Allen Clinton McCoy (January 6, 1940 – July 6, 1979) was an American record producer, arranger, songwriter and singer. He is known for his 1975 internationally successful hit "The Hustle". He has approximately 700 song copyrights to his credit, and produced songs by such recording artists as Brenda & the Tabulations, David Ruffin, The Stylistics, The Presidents,[1] Faith, Hope & Charity, New Censation, Gladys Knight & the Pips, Aretha Franklin, Peaches & Herb, Lesley Gore,[2] and Stacy Lattisaw.
Van McCoy
Van Allen Clinton McCoy
January 6, 1940
Washington, D.C., U.S.
July 6, 1979 (aged 39)
Englewood, New Jersey, U.S.
Record producer, arranger, songwriter, singer
1952–1979
Background and early years[edit]
Early life[edit]
Van McCoy was born on January 6, 1940, in Washington, D.C., the second child of Norman S. McCoy, Sr. and Lillian Ray.[3] He learned to play piano at a young age and sang with the Metropolitan Baptist Church choir as a youngster.[4]
By the age of 12, he had begun writing his own songs, in addition to performing in local amateur shows alongside his older brother, Norman Jr. The two brothers formed a doo-wop combo named the Starlighters with two friends while in Theodore Roosevelt High School. In 1956, they recorded a single entitled, "The Birdland",[3] a novelty dance record. It gained some interest, resulting in a tour with saxophonist Vi Burnside. In 1959, the Starlighters produced three singles for End Records that included "I Cried". Marriage and other commitments eventually caused the group to disband during the mid-1950s. Van also sang with a group called the Marylanders.
[5]
Musical background[edit]
In September 1958, McCoy entered Howard University to study psychology but dropped out after two years in order to relocate to Philadelphia, where he formed his own recording company, Rockin' Records, releasing his first single, "Hey Mr. D.J.", in 1959.[6] This single gained the attention of Scepter Records owner Florence Greenberg, who hired McCoy as a staff writer and A&R representative for the label.[6] As a writer there, McCoy composed his first success, "Stop the Music", for the popular female vocal group The Shirelles in 1962. He was co-owner of Vando Records with Philly D.J. Jocko Henderson. He owned the Share record label and co-owned the Maxx record label in the mid-1960s, supervising such artists as Gladys Knight & the Pips, Chris Bartley and The Ad Libs.
He came into his own after first working for top producers Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller as a writer, and then signing with the major April-Blackwood music publishing concern, connected with Columbia Records. McCoy went on to write a string of hits as the 1960s progressed. He penned "Giving Up" for Gladys Knight & the Pips (later a hit for both The Ad Libs[7] and Donny Hathaway), "The Sweetest Thing This Side of Heaven" for Chris Bartley, "When You're Young and in Love" for Ruby & the Romantics (later a hit for The Marvelettes), "Right on the Tip of My Tongue" for Brenda & the Tabulations,[6] "Baby I'm Yours" for Barbara Lewis,[6] "Getting Mighty Crowded" for Betty Everett, "Abracadabra" for Erma Franklin, "You're Gonna Make Me Love You" for Sandi Sheldon, and "I Get the Sweetest Feeling" for Jackie Wilson.[6]
A songwriting partner for Van McCoy was Joe Cobb. With McCoy, Cobb composed at least eighteen chart hits. They include "So Much Love" by Faith, Hope & Charity, "Triangle of Love (Hey Diddle Diddle)" by The Presidents, "Right on the Tip of My Tongue" by Brenda & the Tabulations, and "Come Back and Finish What You Started" by Gladys Knight & the Pips.[8]
Composition and production[edit]
Late 1950s to late 1960s[edit]
Cash Box reported in the June 13, 1964, issue that McCoy was appointed to the position of staff writer for the music publishing company April-Blackwood Music. He was working under Jerry Teifer. His duties included writing music and lyrics for all their labels, major and independent labels. He also had the responsibility to maintain the liaison with artists and producers. At that time, McCoy's composition "Giving Up" by Gladys Knight & the Pips was doing well in the charts.[9] It was at no. 56 in the Cash Box Top 100 and no. 10 in the Cash Box Top 50 in R&B Locations chart.[10][11]
In 1965, Barbara Lewis had the Van McCoy–composed "Baby I'm Yours" released. She was originally reluctant to record it. It went to no. 11 that year.[12]
Recording career[edit]
1950s[edit]
McCoy along with brother Norman and two schoolmates, Freddy Smith and Paul Comedy formed The Starlighters. He was still at Dunbar High School at the time. It was then after he had transferred to Roosevelt High School in D.C. that "The Birdland" was recorded in 1956. The group later recorded "I Cried" which was released on the End Records label in 1959.[27]
Death[edit]
On June 29, 1979, McCoy suffered a heart attack at his home in Englewood, New Jersey. He was hospitalized and went into a coma, but died at Englewood Hospital a week later at the age of 39.[100][101] He is buried in the McCoy family plot at Lincoln Memorial Cemetery, Suitland, Maryland, a suburb of Washington, D.C.
Personal life[edit]
McCoy was set to marry Kendra Spotswood in the spring of 1966. They had been in a relationship since 1961.[102][35] McCoy's pursuit of his career ruined their wedding plans.[103]
During 1975 and 1976, McCoy was seen at various venues with actress Tamara Dobson.[24][25][26]
McCoy never married or had any children.[102][25][104] He doted on his brother's four children and would give them gifts from places he went. He was greatly affected by the sudden death of his mother in 1973 from a brain hemorrhage and the death of his grandmother Mary Lindsay Ray in August 1976. Since the death of his mother, he had tried to distract himself by focusing on his career. After his grandmother died at the age of 101/102, both his physical and mental health declined.[35]
Television and film[edit]
Van McCoy appeared on the Mike Douglas Show and was a regular guest on The Tonight Show.[105] He wrote and sang the theme song for the 1978 movie Sextette that starred Mae West and Timothy Dalton and made a cameo appearance in it, playing a delegate from Africa. He also contributed some music for A Woman Called Moses.[3] Along with Faith Hope & Charity, Brass Construction and Johnny Dark, he appeared in episode 4.20 of Don Kirshner's Rock Concert.[106]