It’s the song that launched a dance craze with just 2 short commands: “Do It. Do the Hustle!”

Van McCoy wrote, produced and recorded it with the Soul City Symphony–and there’s a bit of irony involved.

Van composed “The Hustle” based on descriptions of the dance from his songwriting partner Charles Kipps, who had seen it being done at a small New York City nightclub. He never actually saw the dance in person until AFTER he wrote the music!

Once the single was released, the song AND the dance spread like wildfire! Virtually every disco and popular radio station played it…dance floors were packed…and more than a million copies were sold!

For the record, “The Hustle” charted in 14 countries, reaching #1 in Canada, Spain, and here in the US, where it topped The Hot 100 and Soul Charts, and just missed at #2 on Th Adult Contemporary Chart. It also won the Grammy Award for Best Pop Instrumental Performance!

Unfortunately, Van McCoy died of a heart attack in 1979… at the way-too-young age of 39…but what a legacy: not just a a Great Song of 1976…but a dance tune that became legendary with just 4 short commands: “Do It!” Do The Hustle!”