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{{short description|American singer-songwriter}}

{{Infobox musical artist
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Rose Marie McCoy
| name = Rose Marie McCoy
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===Early life===
===Early life===
McCoy was born Rose Marie Hinton to Levi and Celetia Brazil Hinton in [[Oneida, Arkansas|Oneida]], [[Arkansas]], on April 19, 1922.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|last=Roberts|first=Sam|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/01/arts/music/rose-marie-mccoy-a-songwriter-for-rock-pop-and-jazz-legends-dies-at-92.html|title=Rose Marie McCoy, a Songwriter for Rock, Pop and Jazz Legends, Dies at 92|date=January 31, 2015|work=The New York Times|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> Her father was a farmer. She later married James McCoy and moved to [[New York City]] with $6 in her pocket to pursue a [[singing]] career in 1942.<ref>[http://www.sunsetfuneralhome.com/obituaries/Rose-Mccoy/ Rose Marie McCoy, Sunset Funeral Home]. Retrieved 29 January 2015</ref> Living in [[Harlem]], she supported herself by working at a Chinese laundry and performing at nightclubs on the weekends.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=100823151|title=Lady Writes The Blues: The Life Of Rose McCoy|date=February 27, 2009|website=NPR.org|language=en}}</ref> McCoy eventually booked gigs at famous venues such as the Baby Grand in Harlem, the Flame Show Bar in [[Detroit]], the Sportsmen's Club in [[Cincinnati]] and Basin Street in [[Toronto]].<ref name=":0" /> She he opened for performers like [[Ruth Brown]], [[Moms Mabley]], [[Dinah Washington]], and [[Pigmeat Markham]].
McCoy was born Rose Marie Hinton to Levi and Celetia Brazil Hinton in [[Oneida, Arkansas|Oneida]], [[Arkansas]], on April 19, 1922.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|last=Roberts|first=Sam|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/01/arts/music/rose-marie-mccoy-a-songwriter-for-rock-pop-and-jazz-legends-dies-at-92.html|title=Rose Marie McCoy, a Songwriter for Rock, Pop and Jazz Legends, Dies at 92|date=January 31, 2015|work=The New York Times|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> Her father was a farmer. She later married James McCoy and moved to [[New York City]] with $6 in her pocket to pursue a [[singing]] career in 1942.<ref>[http://www.sunsetfuneralhome.com/obituaries/Rose-Mccoy/ Rose Marie McCoy, Sunset Funeral Home] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190323121113/http://www.sunsetfuneralhome.com/obituaries/Rose-Mccoy/ |date=2019-03-23 }}. Retrieved 29 January 2015</ref> Living in [[Harlem]], she supported herself by working at a Chinese laundry and performing at nightclubs on the weekends.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=100823151|title=Lady Writes The Blues: The Life Of Rose McCoy|date=February 27, 2009|website=NPR.org|language=en}}</ref> McCoy eventually booked gigs at famous venues such as the Baby Grand in Harlem, the Flame Show Bar in [[Detroit]], the Sportsmen's Club in [[Cincinnati]] and Basin Street in [[Toronto]].<ref name=":0" /> She opened for performers like [[Ruth Brown]], [[Moms Mabley]], [[Dinah Washington]], and [[Pigmeat Markham]].


===Songwriting career===
===Songwriting career===
In 1952, Rose Marie McCoy wrote and recorded two songs for the newly formed [[rhythm and blues]] label [[Wheeler Records]], "Cheating Blues" and "Georgie Boy Blues". After publishers heard these songs they sought her out, and she started working in the [[Brill Building]].<ref name="arseneau">[http://www.guyarseneau.com/pdfs/rose-marie-mccoy.pdf Guy Arseneau, "Long Playing: Rose Marie McCoy is still churning out the tunes at 92"]. Retrieved 24 January 2015</ref> One of the first songs she was asked to write was a half-spoken, half-sung song, "Gabbin' Blues", co-written with [[Leroy Kirkland]], and sung by [[Big Maybelle]] with the spoken part provided by McCoy herself. "Gabbin' Blues", which reached number 3 on the [[R&B chart|''Billboard'' R&B chart]], was the first big hit for Big Maybelle and the songwriter's first hit.<ref name=vf>[http://www.musicvf.com/songs.php?page=artist&artist=Rose+Marie+McCoy&tab=songaswriterchartstab Charted songs written by Rose Marie McCoy, ''MusicVf.com'']. Retrieved 24 January 2015.</ref>
In 1952, Rose Marie McCoy wrote and recorded two songs for the newly formed [[rhythm and blues]] label [[Wheeler Records]], "Cheating Blues" and "Georgie Boy Blues". After publishers heard these songs they sought her out, and she started working in the [[Brill Building]].<ref name="Arseneau">[http://www.guyarseneau.com/pdfs/rose-marie-mccoy.pdf Guy Arseneau, "Long Playing: Rose Marie McCoy is still churning out the tunes at 92"]. Retrieved 24 January 2015</ref> One of the first songs she was asked to write was a half-spoken, half-sung song, "Gabbin' Blues", co-written with [[Leroy Kirkland]], and sung by [[Big Maybelle]] with the spoken part provided by McCoy herself. "Gabbin' Blues", which reached number 3 on the [[R&B chart|''Billboard'' R&B chart]], was the first big hit for Big Maybelle and the songwriter's first hit.<ref name=vf>[http://www.musicvf.com/songs.php?page=artist&artist=Rose+Marie+McCoy&tab=songaswriterchartstab Charted songs written by Rose Marie McCoy, ''MusicVf.com'']. Retrieved 24 January 2015.</ref>


McCoy wrote other songs for Big Maybelle, and other popular R&B artists including [[Louis Jordan]] ("If I Had Any Sense I'd Go Back Home" and "House Party") and co-wrote, with [[Fred Mendelsohn]], [[Nappy Brown]]'s 1955 single "[[Don't Be Angry]]" (also recorded for the [[pop music|pop]] market by [[the Crew-Cuts]]).<ref>[https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/nappy-brown-gospel-singer-who-switched-to-rhythm-n-blues-and-influenced-james-brown-and-otis-redding-941409.html Nappy Brown Obituary] in ''The Independent''.</ref>
McCoy wrote other songs for Big Maybelle, and other popular R&B artists including [[Louis Jordan]] ("If I Had Any Sense I'd Go Back Home" and "House Party") and co-wrote, with [[Fred Mendelsohn]], [[Nappy Brown]]'s 1955 single "[[Don't Be Angry]]" (also recorded for the [[pop music|pop]] market by [[the Crew-Cuts]]).<ref>[https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/nappy-brown-gospel-singer-who-switched-to-rhythm-n-blues-and-influenced-james-brown-and-otis-redding-941409.html Nappy Brown Obituary] in ''The Independent''.</ref>


In 1954, Rose Marie McCoy teamed with songwriter [[Charles Singleton (songwriter)|Charles Singleton]].<ref>Singleton was a co-writer of "Strangers in the Night" and other hits. See [[Talk: Trying to Get To You]].</ref> They soon scored their first hit, "[[It Hurts Me to My Heart]]", recorded in 1954 by [[Faye Adams]]. Their collaboration lasted about eight years and, individually and together, they penned many hits for the top artists of the time, including [[Elvis Presley]]'s "I Beg Of You", The Eagles' "[[Trying to Get to You]]" (later recorded in Presley's [[Elvis Presley's Sun recordings|''Sun Sessions'']]), [[Ruth Brown]]'s "[[Mambo Baby]]", and Nappy Brown's "Little by Little". Singleton and McCoy tunes were also recorded by [[Nat King Cole]] ("If I May", "My Personal Possession"), [[Little Willie John]] ("Letter from My Darling"), [[Eartha Kitt]], [[Eddy Arnold]], [[Big Joe Turner]], [[The Du Droppers]], [[Little Esther]], [[The Clovers]], and many other top artists of the time.
In 1954, Rose Marie McCoy teamed with songwriter [[Charles Singleton (songwriter)|Charles Singleton]].<ref>Singleton was a co-writer of "[[Strangers in the Night]]" and other hits. See [[Talk: Trying To Get To You]].</ref> They soon scored their first hit, "[[It Hurts Me to My Heart]]", recorded in 1954 by [[Faye Adams]]. Their collaboration lasted about eight years and, individually and together, they penned many hits for the top artists of the time, including [[Elvis Presley]]'s "[[I Beg of You]]", The Eagles' "[[Trying to Get to You]]" (later recorded in Presley's [[Elvis Presley's Sun recordings|'' Sun Sessions'']]), [[Ruth Brown]]'s "[[Mambo Baby]]", and Nappy Brown's "Little by Little". Singleton and McCoy's tunes were also recorded by [[Nat King Cole]] ("If I May", "My Personal Possession"), [[Little Willie John]] ("Letter from My Darling"), [[Eartha Kitt]], [[Eddy Arnold]], [[Big Joe Turner]], [[The Du Droppers]], [[Little Esther]], [[The Clovers]], and many other top artists of the time.


After the Singleton and McCoy team split up, Rose Marie McCoy continued to write songs on her own and collaborated with other writers. Noted for her independent stance, McCoy turned down several opportunities to join major [[record label]]s such as [[Motown]], [[Stax Records|Stax]] and [[Atlantic Records|Atlantic]], so she could keep control of her music.<ref name=arseneau/> One of her most successful songs was "[[It's Gonna Work Out Fine]]", co-written with Joe Seneca (as Sylvia McKinney),<ref name=vf/> which was released by [[Ike & Tina Turner]] in 1961. It reached number 14 on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] and number 2 on the R&B chart, earning them their first [[Grammy]] nomination. She also collaborated successfully with songwriter [[Helen Miller (songwriter)|Helen Miller]], writing "We'll Cry Together" for [[Maxine Brown (soul singer)|Maxine Brown]], and "Got to See If I Can't Get Mommy (To Come Back Home)" for [[Jerry Butler]].<ref name=vf/>
After the Singleton and McCoy team split up, Rose Marie McCoy continued to write songs on her own and collaborated with other writers. Noted for her independent stance, McCoy turned down several opportunities to join major [[record label]]s such as [[Motown]], [[Stax Records|Stax]] and [[Atlantic Records|Atlantic]], so she could keep control of her music.<ref name="Arseneau" /> One of her most successful songs was "[[It's Gonna Work Out Fine]]", co-written with [[Joe Seneca]] (as Sylvia McKinney),<ref name=vf/> which was released by [[Ike & Tina Turner]] in 1961. It reached number 14 on the [[Billboard Hot 100|'' Billboard'' Hot 100]] and number 2 on the R&B chart, earning them their first [[Grammy]] nomination. She also collaborated successfully with songwriter [[Helen Miller (songwriter)|Helen Miller]], writing "We'll Cry Together" for [[Maxine Brown (soul singer)|Maxine Brown]], and "Got to See If I Can't Get Mommy (To Come Back Home)" for [[Jerry Butler]].<ref name=vf/>


Though she is most often associated with songs recorded by R&B artists of the 1950s and 1960s, McCoy wrote many jazz, pop, rock 'n' roll, country, and gospel songs. Jazz vocalist [[Jimmy Scott]] recorded nine of her tunes, and [[Sarah Vaughan]] recorded six of her songs, five of them on the singer's 1974 album ''[[Send In the Clowns (1974 Sarah Vaughan album)|Send in the Clowns]].'' McCoy also composed jingles, including one sung by [[Aretha Franklin]] and [[Ray Charles]] for [[Coca-Cola]].<ref name=":0" />
Though she is most often associated with songs recorded by R&B artists of the 1950s and 1960s, McCoy wrote many jazz, pop, rock 'n' roll, country, and gospel songs. Jazz vocalist [[Jimmy Scott]] recorded nine of her tunes, and [[Sarah Vaughan]] recorded six of her songs, five of them on the singer's 1974 album ''[[Send In the Clowns (1974 Sarah Vaughan album)|Send in the Clowns]].'' McCoy also composed jingles, including one sung by [[Aretha Franklin]] and [[Ray Charles]] for [[Coca-Cola]].<ref name=":0" />
Line 39: Line 41:


== Personal life ==
== Personal life ==
In 1943, McCoy married James McCoy, a supervisor at the [[Ford Motor Company]]. He died in 2000. For more than 50 years, McCoy was a resident of [[Teaneck, New Jersey]], until she relocated to live with her niece Helen Brown, in [[Illinois]].<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":0" />
In 1943, McCoy married James McCoy, a supervisor at the [[Ford Motor Company]]. He died in 2000. For more than 50 years, McCoy was a resident of [[Teaneck, New Jersey]], until she relocated to live with her niece in [[Illinois]].<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":0" />


== Death ==
== Death ==
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McCoy was honored by Community Works NYC in their 2008 exhibition and concert series "Ladies Singing the Blues". McCoy received a five-minute standing ovation during the award ceremony at the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine in New York City for her contribution to music. To the delight of the audience, "It's gonna work out fine" was played as she was escorted to the stage.{{citation needed|date=January 2015}}
McCoy was honored by Community Works NYC in their 2008 exhibition and concert series "Ladies Singing the Blues". McCoy received a five-minute standing ovation during the award ceremony at the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine in New York City for her contribution to music. To the delight of the audience, "It's gonna work out fine" was played as she was escorted to the stage.{{citation needed|date=January 2015}}


In 2017, McCoy was inducted into the Arkansas Black Hall of Fame.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/post/they-liked-my-phrasn-life-music-rose-mccoy-part-i|title=They Liked My Phras&#039;n: The Life &amp; Music of Rose McCoy, Part I|last=Minnick|first=J. Bradley|date=September 8, 2019|website=www.ualrpublicradio.org|language=en}}</ref>
In 2017, McCoy was inducted into the Arkansas Black Hall of Fame.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/post/they-liked-my-phrasn-life-music-rose-mccoy-part-i|title=They Liked My Phras'n: The Life & Music of Rose McCoy, Part I|last=Minnick|first=J. Bradley|date=September 8, 2019|website=www.ualrpublicradio.org|language=en}}</ref>

In 2022, McCoy was inducted into the [[Women Songwriters Hall of Fame]].

In 2024, McCoy was inducted into the [[National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame]].


== Discography ==
== Discography ==
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[[Category:American jazz songwriters]]
[[Category:American jazz songwriters]]
[[Category:American rhythm and blues singer-songwriters]]
[[Category:American rhythm and blues singer-songwriters]]
[[Category:Songwriters from Arkansas]]
[[Category:People from Phillips County, Arkansas]]
[[Category:People from Phillips County, Arkansas]]
[[Category:People from Teaneck, New Jersey]]
[[Category:Musicians from Teaneck, New Jersey]]
[[Category:Songwriters from New Jersey]]
[[Category:Singer-songwriters from New Jersey]]
[[Category:Singers from Arkansas]]
[[Category:Singer-songwriters from Arkansas]]
[[Category:Country musicians from Arkansas]]
[[Category:Country musicians from Arkansas]]
[[Category:Country musicians from New Jersey]]
[[Category:Country musicians from New Jersey]]
[[Category:Brunswick Records artists]]
[[Category:Brunswick Records artists]]
[[Category:African-American women musicians]]
[[Category:African-American women musicians]]
[[Category:20th-century African-American people]]
[[Category:20th-century African-American musicians]]
[[Category:21st-century African-American people]]
[[Category:21st-century African-American musicians]]
[[Category:20th-century African-American women]]
[[Category:20th-century African-American women]]
[[Category:21st-century African-American women]]
[[Category:21st-century African-American women]]

Latest revision as of 12:19, 1 November 2024

Rose Marie McCoy
Birth nameRose Marie Hinton
Born(1922-04-19)April 19, 1922
Oneida, Arkansas, U.S.
DiedJanuary 20, 2015(2015-01-20) (aged 92)
Champaign, Illinois, U.S.
GenresCountry, jazz, rhythm & blues, soul, traditional pop
Occupation(s)Songwriter, singer
Years active1942–2015

Rose Marie McCoy (April 19, 1922 – January 20, 2015) was an American songwriter. She began her career as an aspiring singer before becoming a prolific songwriter during the 1950s and 1960s. Many artists have recorded some of the over 800 songs she published, including Big Maybelle, James Brown, Ruth Brown, Nat King Cole, Aretha Franklin, Elvis Presley, and Ike & Tina Turner.

Life and career

[edit]

Early life

[edit]

McCoy was born Rose Marie Hinton to Levi and Celetia Brazil Hinton in Oneida, Arkansas, on April 19, 1922.[1] Her father was a farmer. She later married James McCoy and moved to New York City with $6 in her pocket to pursue a singing career in 1942.[2] Living in Harlem, she supported herself by working at a Chinese laundry and performing at nightclubs on the weekends.[3] McCoy eventually booked gigs at famous venues such as the Baby Grand in Harlem, the Flame Show Bar in Detroit, the Sportsmen's Club in Cincinnati and Basin Street in Toronto.[1] She opened for performers like Ruth Brown, Moms Mabley, Dinah Washington, and Pigmeat Markham.

Songwriting career

[edit]

In 1952, Rose Marie McCoy wrote and recorded two songs for the newly formed rhythm and blues label Wheeler Records, "Cheating Blues" and "Georgie Boy Blues". After publishers heard these songs they sought her out, and she started working in the Brill Building.[4] One of the first songs she was asked to write was a half-spoken, half-sung song, "Gabbin' Blues", co-written with Leroy Kirkland, and sung by Big Maybelle with the spoken part provided by McCoy herself. "Gabbin' Blues", which reached number 3 on the Billboard R&B chart, was the first big hit for Big Maybelle and the songwriter's first hit.[5]

McCoy wrote other songs for Big Maybelle, and other popular R&B artists including Louis Jordan ("If I Had Any Sense I'd Go Back Home" and "House Party") and co-wrote, with Fred Mendelsohn, Nappy Brown's 1955 single "Don't Be Angry" (also recorded for the pop market by the Crew-Cuts).[6]

In 1954, Rose Marie McCoy teamed with songwriter Charles Singleton.[7] They soon scored their first hit, "It Hurts Me to My Heart", recorded in 1954 by Faye Adams. Their collaboration lasted about eight years and, individually and together, they penned many hits for the top artists of the time, including Elvis Presley's "I Beg of You", The Eagles' "Trying to Get to You" (later recorded in Presley's Sun Sessions), Ruth Brown's "Mambo Baby", and Nappy Brown's "Little by Little". Singleton and McCoy's tunes were also recorded by Nat King Cole ("If I May", "My Personal Possession"), Little Willie John ("Letter from My Darling"), Eartha Kitt, Eddy Arnold, Big Joe Turner, The Du Droppers, Little Esther, The Clovers, and many other top artists of the time.

After the Singleton and McCoy team split up, Rose Marie McCoy continued to write songs on her own and collaborated with other writers. Noted for her independent stance, McCoy turned down several opportunities to join major record labels such as Motown, Stax and Atlantic, so she could keep control of her music.[4] One of her most successful songs was "It's Gonna Work Out Fine", co-written with Joe Seneca (as Sylvia McKinney),[5] which was released by Ike & Tina Turner in 1961. It reached number 14 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 2 on the R&B chart, earning them their first Grammy nomination. She also collaborated successfully with songwriter Helen Miller, writing "We'll Cry Together" for Maxine Brown, and "Got to See If I Can't Get Mommy (To Come Back Home)" for Jerry Butler.[5]

Though she is most often associated with songs recorded by R&B artists of the 1950s and 1960s, McCoy wrote many jazz, pop, rock 'n' roll, country, and gospel songs. Jazz vocalist Jimmy Scott recorded nine of her tunes, and Sarah Vaughan recorded six of her songs, five of them on the singer's 1974 album Send in the Clowns. McCoy also composed jingles, including one sung by Aretha Franklin and Ray Charles for Coca-Cola.[1]

The biography, Thought We Were Writing the Blues: But They Called It Rock 'n' Roll, on the life and career of McCoy was written by Arlene Corsano and published in 2014.[8]

Personal life

[edit]

In 1943, McCoy married James McCoy, a supervisor at the Ford Motor Company. He died in 2000. For more than 50 years, McCoy was a resident of Teaneck, New Jersey, until she relocated to live with her niece in Illinois.[3][1]

Death

[edit]

McCoy died at the age of 92 at Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana, Illinois, on January 20, 2015.[1][9]

Honors

[edit]

McCoy was honored by Community Works NYC in their 2008 exhibition and concert series "Ladies Singing the Blues". McCoy received a five-minute standing ovation during the award ceremony at the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine in New York City for her contribution to music. To the delight of the audience, "It's gonna work out fine" was played as she was escorted to the stage.[citation needed]

In 2017, McCoy was inducted into the Arkansas Black Hall of Fame.[10]

In 2022, McCoy was inducted into the Women Songwriters Hall of Fame.

In 2024, McCoy was inducted into the National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame.

Discography

[edit]

Singles

[edit]
  • 1951: "Cheating Blues" / "Georgie Boy" (Wheeler 102)
  • 1954: "Dippin' In My Business / Down Here" (Cat 111)
  • 1977: "I Do The Best I Can With What I Got" (Brunswick 55541)
  • 2013: "Switch Around" (with Wallie Hoskins) (Beltone ST1005) – previously unreleased

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e Roberts, Sam (January 31, 2015). "Rose Marie McCoy, a Songwriter for Rock, Pop and Jazz Legends, Dies at 92". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331.
  2. ^ Rose Marie McCoy, Sunset Funeral Home Archived 2019-03-23 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 29 January 2015
  3. ^ a b "Lady Writes The Blues: The Life Of Rose McCoy". NPR.org. February 27, 2009.
  4. ^ a b Guy Arseneau, "Long Playing: Rose Marie McCoy is still churning out the tunes at 92". Retrieved 24 January 2015
  5. ^ a b c Charted songs written by Rose Marie McCoy, MusicVf.com. Retrieved 24 January 2015.
  6. ^ Nappy Brown Obituary in The Independent.
  7. ^ Singleton was a co-writer of "Strangers in the Night" and other hits. See Talk: Trying To Get To You.
  8. ^ Book review, TheSoulBasement.com Archived 2016-03-03 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 25 January 2015
  9. ^ "Rose McCoy". The News-Gazette. January 29, 2015. Retrieved January 29, 2015.
  10. ^ Minnick, J. Bradley (September 8, 2019). "They Liked My Phras'n: The Life & Music of Rose McCoy, Part I". www.ualrpublicradio.org.

Sources

[edit]
  • Broadcast Music, Inc.
  • Broven, John, "The Story of Rose Marie McCoy", Juke Blues, Issue 26, Summer 1992, pp. 8–15.
  • Freeland, David, "Rose Marie McCoy," American Songwriter, Vol. 21, No. 3, March/April 2006, pp. 65–67.
  • Rose Marie McCoy papers.
  • Rosenbaum, Dan, "Songwriting Sistas", Music Alive, Vol. 26, No. 5, Feb. 2007, pp. 2–3.
[edit]
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