Conway Twitty Children Sue Sony/ATV

Posted by amyclark on 08/24/2008
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3/3/2008 Stephen L. Betts   The children of the late country-music superstar Conway Twitty are suing Sony/ATV for a portion of royalties and publishing copyrights for the Country Music Hall of Famer’s music. The Associated Press reports that the lawsuit filed in chancery court this week claims the children didn't understand the agreement when Conway sold his music publishing and sound recording interests to Sony-Tree in March 1990, three years before he died. But his widow, Dee Jenkins, disagreed with her stepchildren. They fought a 14-year legal battle over his estate after his death, which the children eventually lost. She said Friday that the family knew what they signed 18 years ago and that their lawsuit has dishonored their father's memory. Conway’s daughter, Joni Jenkins Riels, however, says nothing was explained and that they didn't know what rights they were giving up. “Dad had a long relationship with Sony. We tried to work with them, but it didn't work out. So, we had to file the lawsuit,” she said Friday. The children could get more than $100,000 a year from the recordings if they were to get the copyrights back, says Rose Palermo, a lawyer for his estate, who added that she was concerned about the claims in the lawsuit. “I'm somewhat astounded that they make an allegation that they didn't know what they were doing. He was supporting his children. And at the time, he was giving some of them $50,000 a year in salaries and a free place to live. To make this allegation is a direct slam at Conway, who was one of the most honorable and decent guys that I've known in the music business,” says Palermo. Duff Berschback, representing Sony/ATV, declined to comment, saying he hadn't reviewed the lawsuit. Conway Twitty, whose real name was Harold Jenkins, had 40 No. 1 hits, including “Hello Darlin’” and “Louisiana Woman, Mississippi Man,” a duet with Loretta Lynn. He died June 5, 1993.