News : Studio One court case a heavy load - Bob Andy

[Roots Archives]

The law suit between singer/songwriter **Keith 'Bob Andy' Anderson** and the **Clement Coxsone Dodd** estate continues this month with the singer stating that it is "weighing him down".

The court will determine whether royalties are due from Bob Andy's Songbook, the classic Jamaican album which includes the blockbuster hit, I've Got to go Back Home.

"At issue is the publishing aspect of the songs and the fact that they say they are not obliged to pay me any artiste royalties," Andy told the Sunday Observer in an interview Thursday, just days after his 65th birthday. Andy is one of the rock steady era's most prolific hitmakers.

Both parties are said to be in negotiations but are at odds over the authenticity of a signature bearing Andy's name, apparently relinquishing his publishing rights. However, Andy denies having signed any such document. No one at Studio One was available for comment up to press time. Both parties should meet in the Supreme Court chambers on the November 24, Andy said.

"We are supposed to have a case management to discuss a possible settlement," he explained.

It will be the second Studio One suit heard this month; the other reportedly involves a member of Dodd's family.

Andy confessed: "The case is a very heavy load and if I didn't have the inner strength it would depress me."

Andy had two cases filed against Dodd's estate and second defendant JamRec which involve similar matters.

"It is almost as if the songs that people love so much have become an albatross around my neck. It is as if my life is being controlled from beyond the grave," he reasoned.

Andy had previously stated that he has never received adequate financial compensation for the 1970 album Songbook, which became one of the biggest sellers in the Studio One catalogue. He also penned chart-topping hits for other Studio One artistes including Delroy Wilson, Marcia Griffiths and Ken Boothe. Also, in 2002 Andy praised and criticised the late Dodd at the University of the West Indies lecture in commemoration of Dodd's 50th anniversary in the music business this year. He said the legendary producer kick-started the career of many young artistes, "but he could have done more for them".

Bob Andy was one of the founding members of The Paragons, along with Tyrone Evans and Howard Barrett. His bio on Wikipedia notes that his first solo hit record in 1966, I've Got to go Back Home, was followed by Desperate Lover, Feeling Soul, Unchained and Too Experienced, amongst others. He also composed I Don't Want to See You Cry for Ken Boothe, and Feel Like Jumping, Truly and Melody Life for Marcia Griffiths.

His late 1960s hits, including Going Home, Unchained, Feeling Soul, My Time, The Ghetto Stays in the Mind, and Feel the Feeling, and his 1992 hit, Fire Burning, have become reggae standards and have been covered numerous times.

In the early 1970s, he recorded with Marcia Griffiths as Bob and Marcia, under producer Harry J's tutelage. These included the UK hits Young, Gifted and Black and Pied Piper. In 1978, Andy took a five-year-long sabbatical from the music industry to concentrate on his career as an actor. Andy subsequently starred in the films Children of Babylon in 1980 and The Mighty Quinn (1989).

Andy's 1988 album, Freely, recorded in London and Jamaica, was reissued in 1997. The same year, he released an all-new album, Hangin' Tough, produced by Willie Lindo.

Andy undertook his first concert tour of Africa in 2005. He performed at the Bob Marley 60th birthday concert in Addis Ababa to an audience of several hundred thousand, and also sang at the Ethiopian president's palace. During a visit to Shashemane in the weeks following, he gave benefit concerts for the 12 Tribes.

In 2006, he was conferred with the Order of Distinction in the rank of Commander for his contributions to the development of reggae music.

By Steven Jackson

*source : [jamaicaobserver.com](http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/)*

[najeebfarman]

A really nice idea. I appreciate it much !

[gbougard]

the 2d comment is a spam
please remove and when you do, mister administratir, please remove this comment also!
ta\hanks

[gbougard]

Bob Andy is fighting the right fight and should be supported all the way.
Like so many other artists who graduated from the Reggae Studio One University, he has not been properly compensated.
He was also the victim of Sonia Pottinger.
Bob Andy's health has been literally ruined by these battles with rich unscrupulous producers.
The fact that he chose to go the legal way and go to court rather than just reissue his work the bandulu way is a testimony to his courage, integrity and his example should be followed.
A great guy

[star]

It is sad that he doesn't make money from the record sales but weren't the Studio One artists always paid by session. I don't know what case he would have if he agreed to be compensated back then while he let Dodd keep the rights.

[Congo Bunny]

Good luck to him (he's gonna need it)

I can't believe the Dodd family are short a few bob, I'm sure they could come to an agreement with Andy if they wanted to, it would be the right thing to do.

We all know the artists were ripped off back in the day, surviving relatives/owners of rights should all be doing the right thing and pushing some money the artists way otherwise they are just a part of the Babylon system that down trod these artists in the first place.

[drive instigna]

so why did he had to wait for 40 years? that does not make sense..

[gbougard]

so why did he had to wait for 40 years? that does not make sense..

this thing has been going on for years. Bob has tried amicable solutions before and has been given some heavy duty runaround by the father for years, then the wife, daughter and, I seem to recall, the son

he does not have that much money too, which explains the on/off legal proceedings.

[drive instigna]

He could hire a lawyer on a no cure no pay base....

[blakbeltjonez]

drive instigna wrote :so why did he had to wait for 40 years? that does not make sense..

this thing has been going on for years. Bob has tried amicable solutions before and has been given some heavy duty runaround by the father for years, then the wife, daughter and, I seem to recall, the son

he does not have that much money too, which explains the on/off legal proceedings.

there was the legal tussle for the Studio One estate that involved Dodd Jr. and The wife and daughter that was only resolved in the last year or two.... Dodd Jr. was a child from a previous relationship before he and the late Mrs. Dodd got together.