The family of Isaac Hayes, a legendary musician, has officially sued former President Donald Trump. The case, which wants $3 million, alleges copyright infringement for utilizing the song “Hold On, I’m Comin'” during Trump campaign rallies.
This classic soul track, co-written by Hayes and performed by Sam & Dave, is still regarded as a defining piece of Memphis soul music.
Isaac Hayes III, Hayes’ son, filed the case, citing the song’s unlawful use at Trump events. Trump continued to play the song despite repeated requests from the Hayes family to stop, resulting in the current legal action.
On Twitter, Hayes III declared that a complaint had been filed against Donald J. Trump, the Republican National Committee, and numerous other related parties in the United States Federal Court, Northern District.
Following its 1966 Stax Records debut, “Hold On, I’m Comin'” swiftly established itself as a staple of the Memphis soul genre. The title of the song came from a lighthearted studio interaction in which one of the authors yelled, “Hold on, I’m coming!” out of pressure. This line served as the basis for a song about encouragement and certainty, reflecting the upbeat, soulful nature of its writers.
The Hayes family is, however, exceedingly concerned about the song’s association with Donald Trump, given his controversial public image.
In an interview with CNN, Hayes III stated that the family does not want the song connected with Trump, especially given his views and insults about Black people and women. He highlighted that his father, Isaac Hayes, a well-known music industry figure and fervent proponent of social justice, would not have approved of Trump’s use of his tunes.
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The Hayes family vehemently opposes Trump’s political and moral ideas, which are the focus of the case, in addition to the unauthorized use of the music.
Seven Black woman’s brother Hayes III drew attention to Trump’s past disparaging statements about women, including Vice President Kamala Harris, as well as his potential responsibility in a case involving sexual assault.
As far as the Hayes family is concerned, letting Trump utilize “Hold On, I’m Comin'” would be a violation of the values that Isaac Hayes lived for.
Hayes III threatened to sue the family if Trump continued to utilize the song in his social media posts. “Hold On, I’m Comin'” was used without authorization at campaign rallies between 2022 and 2024, according to 134 counts of copyright infringement in the complaint, filed on behalf of Isaac Hayes Enterprises and managed by Walker & Associates.
The family is seeking that Trump and his campaign stop using the music by August 16, 2024, remove any related videos, issue a public apology, and pay $3 million in license fees. If these requirements are not satisfied, the former president and his campaign will face further legal action.
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