VAN MCCOY

In 1975, he reached number one with “The Hustle,” but he had previously worked extensively in the soul and R&B world, only to become “immortal” thanks to disco, like many others.

He passed away early, in 1979, but not before producing artists such as Gladys Knight, The Pips, Aretha Franklin, Stacy Lattisaw, and Melba Moore.