Bob Marley's Family Loses Suit Against Universal

A judge has ruled against Bob Marley’s family, who had sued Universal Music Group for the rights over five of the singer’s most enduring albums. Bob’s widow Rita and nine of his children filed the suit after UMG licensed Marley's music for ringtones without first consulting the family, Reuters reports. In addition to the copyrights, on albums released by Island Records between 1972 and 1978 (Catch a Fire, Burnin', Natty Dread, Rastaman Vibrations and Exodus), the Marleys had been seeking millions of dollars for damages and lost royalties. Marley recorded the LPs as part of a "works made for hire" contract with Island, an offshoot of UMG. The Marley family accused Universal of "exploiting" Bob Marley's music and image.

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Song Stories

“Oh Sherrie”

Steve Perry | 1984

Steve Perry's girlfriend Sherrie Swafford was actually in the studio when Perry began writing this song--his lone Top Ten hit as a solo act--with two co-writers. The trio began at midnight one night with just "Oh, Sherrie!" and "hold on, hold on." Three hours later, they had a complete song. Swafford, however, had to wait until the next day to hear it. "Sherrie actually got tired and went to bed," Perry said. She also appeared in the video, but their relationship did not hold on for long.

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