Everyday (I Have the Blues)

Last week, William "Count" Basie's testamentary trust (as successor in interest) and a number of other musical luminaries filed a complaint in New York State Supreme Court, New York County (Manhattan) against the Universal Music Group seeking both damages and equitably relief arising out of UMG's "continuous systematic and callous disregard of the plaintiff's rights." Additionally, the complaint alleges breach of contract, and the issuing of false statements "with the hope of suppressing" plaintiff's earnings (i.e., royalties). Copies of the complaint are available upon request.

[The William Basie testamentary trust as successor in interest to William "Count" Basie; the estate of Sarah Vaughan; Keep Swingin' Inc. as successor in interest to Woody Herman; Patti Page; Kitty Kallen; John Mills obo The Mills Brothers; The Claire and Lester Brown testamentary trust as successor in interest to Les Brown; the estate of Jerry Murad; the estate of Sister Rosetta Tharpe; Marcia Laine as successor in interest to Frankie Laine; Tony Martin; the estate of Benny Goodman; Dick Hyman; Richard Hayman v. UMG Recordings Inc.; Universal Music Group Inc.; filed 2/14/2008; case no. 08-600461]