Van McCoy

Van Allen Clinton McCoy (January 6, 1940 - July 6, 1979) was a music producer, musician, songwriter, and orchestra conductor most famous for his massive disco hit The Hustle of 1975. He is known also for producing such 1970s recordi

Van Allen Clinton McCoy (January 6, 1940 - July 6, 1979) was a music producer, musician, songwriter, and orchestra conductor most famous for his massive disco hit The Hustle of 1975. He is known also for producing such 1970s recording artists as Gladys Knight and the Pips, Faith, Hope & Charity, The Stylistics, Aretha Franklin, Stacy Lattisaw, and The Softones.

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 their touring with drummer Vi Burnsides. Marriage and other things would eventually cause the group to disband in the mid-'50s.