He’s only really remembered for The Hustle but Van McCoy enjoyed a long and distinguished music career before that 1975 disco classic, right up to his death just four years later at the age of only 39.

Nearly two decades before his million-selling hit became one of the only pop hits to feature a piccolo as its lead instrument, McCoy had made his recording debut with a doo wop group back in 1956.

He was lead vocalist, songwriter and musical director of The Starlighters’ debut single The Birdland, another novelty song about a dance craze, and went on to write hundreds of songs including Jackie Wilson’s I Get The Sweetest Feeling.

The Hustle, inspired by a dance seen at a New York club called Adam’s Apple, was recorded at the city’s Media Sound studio, produced by Hugo Peretti.

McCoy played the piano, with Gordon Edwards on bass, drummer Steve Gadd, Richard Tee on keyboards and guitarists Eric Gale and John Tropea, plus an orchestra under the direction of Gene Orloff, with Phil Bodner playing that piccolo melody.

Over his career as a producer, arranger, songwriter, singer and orchestra conductor, McCoy clocked up a staggering 700 copyrights. His productions include Gladys Knight & the Pips, The Stylistics, Aretha Franklin, David Ruffin and Lesley Gore.

His music career began after he dropped out of university in Washington DC and moved to Philadelphia, landing a songwriting and A&R contract with Scepter Records. His first success came when he wrote a hit for The Shirelles.

By the early Sixties he owned or co-owned several labels and formed his own orchestra, Soul City Symphony featuring the singers Faith, Hope and Charity.

The Hustle, on which they get a co-credit, came from his 1975 album Disco Baby and reached no.4 in the UK. His final hit was another instrumental dance song, The Shuffle, which went on to become the theme tune for Radio 4’s Sport on Four.

Van McCoy died from a heart attack in New Jersey in 1979 and was buried in his home town of Washington DC.