Rose Marie McCoy (born April 19, 1922, Oneida, Arkansas) was one of the most influential and prolific songwriters of the 1950s and 1960s.
McCoy moved to New York City in 1942, pursuing a singing career. Her vocal talent got her bookings at many famous venues such as Harlem’s Baby Grand, Detroit’s Flame Show Bar, Cincinnati's Sportsmen's Club, and Toronto's Basin Street.
In 1952, Rose Marie McCoy wrote and recorded two songs for the newly formed Rhythm & Blues label Wheeler Records, “Cheating Blues” and “Georgie Boy Blues”. After publishers heard these songs they began seeking her out. One of the first songs she was asked to write was a half-spoken, half-sung song, “Gabbin’ Blues” sung by Big Maybelle with the talking part provided by Rose Marie McCoy. “Gabbin’ Blues” turned out to be the first big hit for Big Maybelle and also the songwriter’s first hit.
McCoy went on to write other songs for Big Maybelle, as well as other popular Rhythm ‘n’ Blues 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".[1]
Around this time Rose Marie McCoy teamed up with songwriter Charles Singleton, also known as Charlie Singleton.[2] They soon scored their first hit, “It Hurts Me to My Heart”, recorded by Faye Adams. Their collaboration lasted about eight years 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 & McCoy tunes were also recorded by Nat King Cole, Little Willie John, Eartha Kitt, Aretha Franklin, Eddy Arnold, The Five Willows, Big Joe Turner, The Du Droppers, Little Esther, The Clovers, and many other top artists of the time.
After the Singleton and McCoy team broke up, Rose Marie McCoy continued to write songs on her own and in collaboration with other writers. Her most successful song of the 1960s was “I Think It’s Gonna Work Out Fine,” which became Ike and Tina Turner’s first top 20 pop single and their first Grammy nomination.
Though she is most often associated with songs recorded by legendary Rhythm & Blues artists of the 1950s and 60s, Rose Marie McCoy has written many jazz, pop, rock ‘n’ roll, country, and gospel songs. Legendary jazz vocalist Jimmy Scott has recorded nine Rose Marie McCoy tunes. Sarah Vaughan has recorded six of her songs, five of them found on the singer’s 1974 album Send in the Clowns.
Many other artists have recorded some of the over 800 songs she has had published, including but not limited to: Pearl Bailey, Maxine Brown, Shirley Caesar, Les Paul & Mary Ford, Patti Page, Debbie Reynolds, Lenny Welsh, Dinah Washington, Barbara Lewis, Del Shannon, Joe Medlin, Freddie Scott, Billy & Lillie, Tommy Sands, Marie Cole, Shirley and Lee, Sammy Turner, Solomon Burke, Toni Arden, The Crew-Cuts, Ellerine Harding, Annie Laurie, Al Hibbler, Vera Longus, Jimmy Rushing, Eartha Kitt, Otis Williams, Bette Midler, Billy Eckstine, Ella Mae Morse, Chuck Jackson, Eddy Arnold, Dizzy Gillespie, Brook Benton, Buddy Ace, Varetta Dillard, Ivory Joe Hunter, Big Dee Irwin, Jane Froman, Shirley Ellis, Jimmy Rushing, Peggy Lee, Jean Wells, Jo Stafford, Georgia Gibbs, Joe Erskine, Bobby Vee, Wilbert Harrison, Linda Hopkins, The Platters, The Four Preps, Dakota Staton, The Harptones, Moms Mabley, Etta James, Gloria Lynne, Faith Hill, Linda Ronstadt and James Taylor.
McCoy has been a resident of Teaneck, New Jersey since the 1950s.[3]
Ms. 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 awards 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.