Mae West: Being [Mc]Coy

MAE WEST, who starred and wrote the screenplay for "Sextette," had asked Van McCoy [1940 — 1979] to write the theme song, and to make a cameo appearance in her motion picture.
• • "Sextette" was released on 3 March 1978.
• • Singer, songwriter, and music producer Van Allen Clinton McCoy was born in January — — on 6 January 1940 — — in Washington, DC.
Van McCoy's musical venture started early on when she sang in the choir.
• • When his brother, Norman, Jr. and two high school buddies formed doo-wop group called the Starlighters, Van became the lead singer, writer, and music director for the group.
• • During the 1960s, Van McCoy penned numerous hit songs for such artists as the Shirelles ("Stop the Music"), Jackie Wilson ("I Get the Sweetest Feeling"), Gladys Knight & the Pips ("Giving Up"), Betty Everett ("Getting Mighty Crowded"), Ruby and the Romantics ("When You're Young and in Love"), Brenda & the Tabulations ("Right on the Tip of My Tongue"), Chris Bartley ("The Sweetest Thing This Side of Heaven"), and Barbara Lewis ("Baby, I'm Yours").
• • In 1966 Van McCoy recorded a solo album for Columbia Records, produced by Mitch Miller.
• • In addition to his many projects, Van McCoy arranged several hits for the Stylistics, formed his own orchestra [Soul City Symphony], and — — with singers Faith, Hope, and Charity — — recorded several albums and gave numerous live performances.
• • In 1975 Van McCoy, then 35 years old, scored an enormous smash hit with a catchy disco instrumental "The Hustle"; his #1 hit peaked on the Billboard charts during July 1975, sold over a million copies, and won a Grammy Award. He became a household name — — associated with the youth culture and trendy disco fever.
• • Unfortunately, the 39-year-old star was stricken with heart failure in his fashionable home in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey. Without regaining consciousness, he died on 6 July 1979 at Englewood General Hospital.
• • Come up and see Mae every day online: http://MaeWest.blogspot.com/
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Mae West
• • Photo: • • Mae West • • 1978 • •
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Mae West.

Mae West: Steve Allen

Thirty five years ago, MAE WEST was attended by several "Gentlemen in Waiting" — — such as Steve Allen — — when she received the Masquers Club Award in 1973.
• • Born in New York City, Steve Allen [26 December 1921 — 30 October 2000] was a TV personality, musician, actor, comedian, and writer.
• • Steve Allen was the son of Isabelle Allen (née Donohue), a vaudeville comedienne who performed under the name Belle Montrose, and Carroll Allen, another vaudevillian. Steve Allen was raised on the south side of Chicago by his mother's Irish Catholic family. Milton Berle once called Allen's mother "the funniest woman in vaudeville."
• • Though he got his start in radio, Allen is best-known for his television career. He first gained national attention as a guest host on Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts. He graduated to become the first host of The Tonight Show, where he was instrumental in innovating the concept of the television talk show.
• • After this glorious beginning, he hosted numerous game and variety shows, including the Steve Allen Show, I've Got a Secret, The New Steve Allen Show, and was a regular panel member on "What's My Line?" the popular CBS program.
• • Allen was also known as a prolific composer, having penned over 10,000 songs, one of which was recorded by Perry Como and Margaret Whiting. Allen won a Grammy award in 1963 for best jazz composition, with his song The Gravy Waltz. Additionally, Allen wrote more than 50 books.
• • He has two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
• • Come up and see Mae every day online: http://MaeWest.blogspot.com/
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Mae West
• • Photo: • • Mae West • • none • •
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Mae West.