The Starlighters (2) (Washington, D.C.)
Personnel :
Van McCoy
Freddy Smith
Paul (Buddy) Comedy
Norman McCoy Jr
Discography :
Singles:
1958 - It's Twelve O'Clock / The Birdland (End 1031)
1959 - I Cried / You're The One To Blame (End 1049)
1960 - A Story Of Love / Let's Take A Stroll (End 1072)
Unreleased :
N/A - ICome Back To Me*
N/A - So True*
*released in 1979 on the VAM LP 4079
Biography :
Van
McCoy was born as Van Allen Clinton McCoy in Washington D.C. on January
1940, by his mid teens he formed a vocal group with his brother Norman
McCoy, Fred Smith, Paul Comedy & Bernard Wisenant called the
Starlighters. Van became the lead singer, writer, and music director for
the group. In 1958, The Starlighter cut their first single with both
sides written by Van for New York's George Goldner End Records "The
Birdland" the B side was "It's Twelve O'Clock".

Van McCoy
The
group appeared on stage in Washington, D.C. (Howard Theater),
Philadelphia (Royal) and New York (Apollo). Vi Burnsides, a musician
from the famous Sweethearts of Rhythm all female band, took the
Starlighters with her to enhance her performance tours on the east coast
corridor. This gave them their first exposure to audiences in theaters
and stages in major cities away from home. George Goldner must have
really liked the group cause their second single "You're The One To
Blame" backed by "I Cried" was released in 1959.


The
single was reviewed on June 20, 1959 receiving Excellent 4 stars. By
1960, the final Starlighters single came out on End with "The Story of
Love" and "Let's Take a Stroll". Actually Van Was a student at Howard
University for a couple of years but in 1961 he decided to start a
record label based out originally Philadelphia called Rock'N.
Songs :
The Birdland It's Twelve O'Clock I Cried
You're The One To Blame A Story Of Love Let's Take A Stroll
Come Back To Me / So True