Tommy Smith, a former keyboard player for the Backstreet Boys, filed a suit against the group's members in U.S District Court for the Central District in Los Angeles on March 14th, seeking co-writing credit for two songs on the band's 8 million-selling release Black and Blue. The suit also names Zomba Enterprises, which owns Jive Records, the Backstreet Boys' label.

Smith, who played with the group for six years, is seeking fifty percent co-writing credits to the song "The Answer to Our Life," which he says was co-written with Nick Carter. He also wants thirty-three percent co-writing credit for the song "Time," which he says was written with Brian Littrell and Guy Walker during sessions in preparation for Black and Blue.

According to Smith's attorney, Gerald B. Weiner, Smith has tried to settle the case for the past two years through negotiations. "They offered two and a half percent of one of the songs," Weiner explains, "which means they basically conceded that he wrote something. He co-wrote them, he wants credit and wants to get paid."

According to Weiner, Smith quit the Backstreet Boys once learning that he was not given songwriting credits on the album, sheet music, or anywhere songwriting credits are listed. The remaining members of the Backstreet Boys -- AJ McLean, Howie Dorough and Kevin Richardson -- were listed as songwriting partners.

CHRISTINA SARACENO
(March 20, 2002)