The family of Isaac Hayes has had enough of former President Donald Trump using a song of the late “Black Moses” on the campaign trial.
A lawsuit is pending if Trump does not immediately cease and desist from using Hayes’ “Hold On, I’m Coming” at rallies.
A letter shared on social media on August 18, 2024 from Hayes’ family demanded that Trump comply with the request by August 23. It also seeks $3 million in licensing fees for use of the song at Trump events since 2022.
“It has come to our attention that you or the campaign have authorized the illegal public performance of the song on multiple occasions during various rallies for your political campaign without authorization from the copyright holder, despite being asked repeatedly not to engage in such illegal use by our client,” stated the letter from the family’s attorney James Walker.
R&B lovers know that Hayes, who died in 2008, did not perform the song “Hold On. I’m Coming.” He and David Porter wrote the music and lyrics for the tune that became a smash hit for the duo Sam & Dave in 1966.
According to Hayes’ family, the song has been played 134 times by the Trump campaign in the last two years.
BET
I personally think when you publish a song it then belongs to us all to play whenever we want. If I wrote a song I’d be happy that people were still listening and enjoying the song. Not letting it be forgotten. I had never heard the song before