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Contact: Lorree Slye, Phone-301-856-4099, Fax –301-856-4652, Email-Mccoylegacy25@aol.com

Van McCoy 25 Year Legacy Tribute: Star Studded Event

       Washington, DC (June 15, 2004) – Fans from around the world are invited to the nation's capital on Saturday, July 31, 2004 to celebrate the life and legacy of the late Van McCoy, world renown Composer, Producer, Singer and Musician. The event will be held at Theodore Roosevelt High School, 4301 13^th Street NW, Washington, DC, in the auditorium where the D.C. native was a 1958 graduate. District of Columbia Council Chair, the Honorable Linda Cropp, is honorary chair of this event. Chairperson Cropp, a long-standing McCoy fan, applauded his spectacular musical career, in the era when he brought fame and pride to his hometown. Carla Reed, of Clear View Productions is the producer. The show, for which there is no charge, runs from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.  Doors open at 3:15 p.m.  with seating on a first come basis, however, admission is for Adults and Teens Only.

        D.C’s own, Nathan Heathman, is the Music Director of the show featuring the Van McCoy Legacy Band, and a star-studded list of who's who of R&B, Gospel and Dance.  Melba Moore will headline the tribute with hit songs from her albums written and produced by Van in the 70’s. The M.C.’s and Co-Hosts for the event will be two artists, who have also recorded Van’s music:  Jean Carne, Artist-in-Residence for Van McCoy Music, Inc. and Herb Fame, of the "Peaches & Herb" duo founded by McCoy in the 60’s. They will also pay tribute to Van by singing some of his music.  Evangelist Dorothy Norwood, a Gospel legend in her own time, will tell the Van McCoy story, sing his favorite hymn, and lead a Candlelight tribute.  The 2004 Van McCoy Open Pro Hustle Winners, Silvana and Brian Gallagher, will show everyone how World Champions, “Do the Hustle.”  A special treat will come from a performance by students and alumni of the Duke Ellington School for Performing Arts.  

       The music legacy of  Van McCoy continues to grow around the world as a new generation of listeners enjoy  his songs on Radio, TV shows, Movies, Commercials, CD’s and Live Theatre. His music is in new formats such as ring tones, MP3 downloads, arcade and video games. It is popular for sampling in Hip Hop, and is being remixed for distribution throughout the world. Van’s music career began with a local Doo Wop group of the 50’s called the “Starlighters.” His fame grew over 20 years as a writer and producer of R&B ballads, Rock and Roll, and instrumental songs. He wrote and produced music for recording artists including Aretha Franklin, Gladys Knight, Roberta Flack, BB King, Stacy Lattisaw, Tom Jones, Donnie Hathaway, David Ruffin, Nina Simone, and many others. He formed Faith, Hope and Charity singing group, and the Soul City Symphony, and turned out albums of his own. From his “Disco Baby” album came the mega ton music bomb of the disco era, “The Hustle.” It sold over 10 million copies and won a 1975 Grammy Award. This timeless song, which has long survived the disco era, is now #5 on the VH-1 list of All Time Dance Hits. It is by far the most popular of his 600 copyrights, followed by the immortal “Baby I’m Yours.” McCoy’s premature death on July 6, 1979, at 39 years of age, shocked the world. He is listed among famous African Americans buried in historic, Lincoln Cemetery, in Suitland, MD.

This Van McCoy 25 Year Legacy Tribute marks future efforts by Van McCoy Music, Inc., to join the focus on returning music to the schools. “Van would want all children and youth to be enriched by the joy of participating in music activities”, says his foster sister, Mattie Taylor, President and CEO of the 15 year old company that continues to preserve and publish Van’s music, and now represents his next of kin copyright heirs. Explore more about the world of Van McCoy on www.vanmccoymusic.com.

Van McCoy Music, Inc. 7801 Old Branch Ave, Suite 403, Clinton, MD 20735

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