The Starlighters (2)

The Starlighters (2) (Washington, D.C.)
(updated by Hans-Joachim) 

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

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