More about Van....


    Who was this man whose music is still in demand around the world 20 years after his untimely death? Van Allen Clinton McCoy was born in Washington, D.C. on January 6, 1940 (1944 incorrectly reported elsewhere). He was the younger of two very talented sons of Lillian (Ray) and Norman S. McCoy, Sr. He grew up on Columbia Road, Northwest, in a loving Christian home that included his beloved "DarDar," maternal grandmother, Mrs. Mary Lindsay Ray. His parents were very active members of the, now historical, Metropolitan Baptist Church which became a central part of Van’s life also. He attended the neighborhood public schools, sang in the church and school choirs, performed on local programs with his brother, Norman, Jr. and spent every leisure minute at the family piano.

    Music was all around him; his mother and God-mother sang in local choirs and were always rehearsing at his house. The McCoy boys spent many summers in Florence, South Carolina with paternal grandparents; a small church pastor whose wife played the piano, sang and taught music. Van and his piano and Norman, Jr. and his violin were family treasures. Van attended a Saturday children’s music class at nearby Howard University, under the tutelage of Dr. A. H .Johnson. Van learned music as a unique language with notes that he could use to create his very own music. Once Van got started, he just kept going.

    Van was an excellent student who loved mathematics and worked hard to bring home "A’s."

    He was a pleasant, patient, easygoing kid who got along well with people of every age. He loved his family and was a homebody. He seemed to breeze along with no particular problems other than recurring skin eruptions that later kept him out of military service. He had a great sense of humor and could be a "cut-up" with his brother. Van’s music ability made him very popular with his peers and the McCoy home was youth "headquarters."

    In 1954 the McCoys met a young woman, Mattie Goodrum (Taylor). the daughter of a family friend who had recently relocated from Atlanta Georgia. The boys were curious since she was a "lady cop," but found there was nonstop fun and laughter at every visit. They quickly decided she was the perfect "big sister." She had the right credentials to chaperone their basement parties, and could take them to the beach and amusement park. Soon he had a doting older sister and brother as his sounding boards and buddies, and the fun was on. With his mother Lillian as chief supporter and advisor, he felt very confident as he made bigger and bigger strides. Van never married. His songs were his ‘children'.

    The first crushing blow in Van’s life was the sudden death of his mother, from a brain hemorrhage, in October 1973. Shaken and dazed, Van tried to tune out his sorrow with more work. He picked up the plans Lillian had begun for DarDar’s 100th birthday celebration and in August 1974 gave his grandmother a gigantic party on the grounds of his beautiful Washington, D.C. residence. In August 1975 he gave her an even bigger 101st birthday party and she presented him with the certified gold record for the Hustle. Mrs. Ray got to her feet and danced a few bars of the Hustle with him and the media and cameras went wild.

   In August 1976 Mrs. Ray, died peacefully at Van’s home, where she lived. Norman, Sr., joined the Van McCoy staff and traveled with his famous son to help comfort him. However, grief and despair carried him downhill physically and emotionally until the end. He was funeralized at his beloved home church and is buried at Lincoln Cemetery, Suitland, Maryland

Viva McCoy!

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