An old mate of Jimi Hendrix’s is suing the greatest guitarist ever’s Estate, saying they released a song he co-wrote in 2003 without his permission. Sax player Lonny Youngblood claims he wrote the song Georgia Blues with Hendrix in 1969.
He claims that Hendrix played in his band in New York City under the name Jimmy James in the mid-60s before going off to worldwide fame. He also says that they remained friends and they collaborated in a New York Studio in 1969 while Hendrix was promoting the Electric Ladyland album, when the song was written and recorded.
It turned up on a rarities compilation in 2003, but Youngblood says he conveniently copyrighted the song in 2002, as well as releasing it on the internet. Court papers he has recently filed say a lawyer from the Hendrix estate offered him $3,000 for rights to the song which he refused. The still-active musician, who is now 68, is chasing damages for the song’s release. “It’s the principle,” he argues. “I want my song back. They had no right to take my song.” It sounds like he didn’t copyright the song until approached by lawyers seeking clearance for the compilation and now wants some retirement money.
