Soul legend’s family sues Trump for 'stealing' song — and demands $3m compensation

12 August 2024

Many times, Republicans have infuriated liberal rock and R&B musicians by using their songs at campaign events without their permission. Bruce Springsteen, Phil Collins and Neil Young are among the veteran rockers who have objected to Donald Trump playing their songs at his rallies even though they have asked him not to.

Now, Trump is facing a lawsuit from the family of the late R&B legend Isaac Hayes.

According to the Daily Beast's Matt Young, Hayes' family has repeatedly asked Trump not to use Sam & Dave's 1966 hit "Hold On, I'm Comin'" — which Hayes co-wrote about five years before his famous "Theme From Shaft."

"The family is suing Trump and his campaign for 134 counts of copyright infringement for 'the unauthorized use of the song at campaign rallies from 2022-2024,'" Young explains. "A lawyer for the family, James Walker Jr., told The Daily Beast they are giving Trump 'five days to pay, or we will push ahead with legal action.'"

Hayes' family, according to Walker, is asking for a "payment of $3 million in licensing fees by August 16, 2024" as well as "the cessation of use, removal of all related videos" and "a public disclaimer."

Walker told the Daily Beast, "The family keeps asking him not to play the music. They don't want people to think he’s endorsing Trump. They are opposed to somebody stealing their music.”

Hayes, who died in 2008, was a major R&B star during the 1960s and 1970s. The singer is best remembered for the famous theme from the 1971 movie "Shaft" (starring Richard Rowntree), but before that, he was a staff songwriter at Stax Records and co-wrote major hits for Sam & Dave, Carla Thomas and others.

Read the Daily Beast's full article at this link (subscription required).

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