Van McCoy facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Van McCoy
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Van Allen Clinton McCoy |
| Born | January 6, 1940 Washington, D.C., U.S. |
| Died | July 6, 1979 (aged 39) Englewood, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Genres | Disco, R&B, pop |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, songwriter |
| Years active | 1952–1979 |
| Labels | Columbia, Avco, H&L |
Van Allen Clinton McCoy (born January 6, 1940 – died July 6, 1979) was a talented American musician. He was a record producer, arranger, songwriter, singer, and even an orchestra conductor. Van McCoy is most famous for his huge international hit song from 1975, "The Hustle". He wrote or helped create about 700 songs! He also produced music for many famous artists like Gladys Knight & the Pips, The Stylistics, and Aretha Franklin.
Contents
Biography
Early life and music beginnings
Van McCoy was born in Washington, D.C.. He was the second child of Norman S. McCoy, Sr. and Lillian Ray. From a very young age, he learned to play the piano. He also sang in his church choir when he was a kid.
By the time he was 12, Van started writing his own songs. He also performed in local talent shows with his older brother, Norman Jr. In high school, the two brothers formed a singing group called the Starlighters. This group sang a style of music called doo-wop. In 1956, they recorded a song called "The Birdland." It was a fun dance song that got some attention. They even went on tour with a saxophonist named Vi Burnside. The Starlighters made a few more songs, but the group eventually broke up. Van also sang with another group called the Marylanders.
In 1961, McCoy met Kendra Spotswood. She was also known as Sandi Sheldon. They sang and recorded music together for about five years. Their relationship ended because Van signed a work contract with Columbia Records. This meant he had to delay their wedding plans.
Building a music career
In September 1958, Van McCoy started studying psychology at Howard University. But after two years, he left college. He moved to Philadelphia to start his own record company, Rockin' Records. In 1959, he released his first song, "Hey Mr. DJ." This song caught the eye of Florence Greenberg, who owned Scepter Records. She hired Van as a staff writer and an A&R representative. An A&R person helps find new artists and guides their music.
As a writer, Van McCoy had his first big success in 1962. He wrote "Stop the Music" for a popular group called The Shirelles. He also owned or co-owned other record labels like Vando, Share, and Maxx. Through these labels, he worked with artists like Gladys Knight & the Pips.
Van really became successful after working with famous producers Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. He then signed with April-Blackwood, a music publishing company connected to Columbia Records. Throughout the 1960s, Van wrote many hit songs. He wrote "Giving Up" for Gladys Knight & the Pips and "Baby I'm Yours" for Barbara Lewis. He also helped create the popular duo Peaches & Herb. He arranged and produced their first hit, "Let's Fall in Love," in 1966. In the same year, Van released his own album called Night Time Is Lonely Time. A year later, he started his own record label, Vando, and his own production company.
In the early 1970s, Van McCoy worked closely with songwriter Charles Kipps. He arranged many hit songs for the soul group The Stylistics. He also released his own album, Soul Improvisations, in 1972. This album had a small hit song called "Let Me Down Easy." Van also formed his own orchestra, the Soul City Symphony. With singers Faith, Hope and Charity, he made several albums and performed many shows.
Television and film appearances
Van McCoy appeared on popular TV shows like Mike Douglas Show and The Tonight Show. He wrote and sang the theme song for the 1978 movie Sextette. This movie starred Mae West and Timothy Dalton. Van even had a small role in the movie, playing a delegate from Africa. He also helped create music for the film A Woman Called Moses. He appeared on Don Kirshner's Rock Concert with his group Faith Hope & Charity.
Mainstream success with "The Hustle"
In 1975, Van McCoy released an album called Disco Baby. Most of the songs on it were instrumental, meaning they didn't have singing. The album's title song was "Disco Baby." But then, something unexpected happened. A song from the album called "The Hustle" became a massive hit! This song was about a popular dance. It quickly went to the top of the music charts in the US and was also very popular in the UK. "The Hustle" even won a Grammy Award.
After this huge success, Van McCoy was known as a "disco hitmaker." While he had other popular songs like "Party" and "Change with the Times," none were as big as "The Hustle." "Change with the Times" reached number 6 on the R&B chart and was a top 40 hit in the UK.
In 1975, Van McCoy received a special award in Montreal, Canada. It was for his song "Love Is the Answer" becoming a hit in Quebec. This celebration also marked his first concert with the Soul City Symphony in Montreal.
Even though he didn't have more huge hits in the US, he did have another top 5 hit in the UK in 1977. This was an instrumental song called "The Shuffle." It even became the theme song for a radio show called Sport on Four.
McCoy also helped David Ruffin with his comeback album, Who I Am. This album included the hit song "Walk Away from Love." Van produced two more albums for Ruffin, which also had successful songs. He also produced music for Gladys Knight & the Pips and Melba Moore. He discovered the group Faith, Hope And Charity. Their big hit in 1975, "To Each His Own," was another R&B chart-topper.
Death
Van McCoy sadly died from a heart attack on July 6, 1979. He was only 39 years old. He passed away in Englewood, New Jersey. He is buried in the McCoy family plot in Lincoln Memorial Cemetery in Suitland, Maryland.
Discography
Van McCoy released many albums and singles throughout his career. His music included studio albums, where he recorded new songs, and compilation albums, which were collections of his best hits. He also released many singles, which are individual songs. His most famous single was "The Hustle." You can find his music on various streaming services and music platforms today.
See also
In Spanish: Van McCoy para niños
