Van Allen Clinton McCoy was born on January 6, 1940, in Washington, D.C. He was a prolific American record producer, arranger, songwriter, and singer, best known for his 1975 disco hit "The Hustle," which became an international success. McCoy's musical journey began early; he learned to play the piano and sang in the Metropolitan Baptist Church choir. By age 12, he was writing his own songs and performing in local amateur shows with his brother, Norman Jr.

In high school, McCoy formed a doo-wop group called The Starlighters, which recorded the novelty dance single "The Birdland" in 1956. After studying psychology at Howard University for two years, he left to pursue a career in music, moving to Philadelphia where he founded Rockin' Records and released "Hey Mr. D.J." in 1959.

McCoy's talent led him to a position at Scepter Records as a staff writer and A&R representative, where he composed hits for The Shirelles and other artists. Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, he wrote and produced numerous songs for artists like Gladys Knight & the Pips, Aretha Franklin, and The Stylistics. He also founded several record labels, including Vando Records.

In 1975, McCoy achieved massive success with "The Hustle," which topped the Billboard charts and won a Grammy Award for Best Pop Instrumental Performance. Despite his success in disco, McCoy continued to write and produce for other artists until his untimely death from a heart attack on July 6, 1979, in Englewood, New Jersey, at the age of 39. His legacy includes over 700 song copyrights and a profound influence on the music industry.