Isaac Hayes’ Family Sues Trump Campaign For Unauthorized Use of “Hold On, I’m Coming”

Isaac Hayes’ Family Sues Trump Campaign For Unauthorized Use of “Hold On, I’m Coming”

As a longtime fan of Isaac Hayes, I can’t help but feel a sense of admiration for his family’s unwavering commitment to upholding his legacy. It’s heartening to see them stand firm against the misuse of their loved one’s work by a figure like Donald Trump.


As an ardent admirer and supporter of the legendary Isaac Hayes, I’m sharing that his family is reportedly taking legal action against Donald Trump and his campaign. The reason? They allege persistent unauthorized use of our dear Mr. Hayes’ co-written song “Hold On, I’m Coming,” the iconic hit by Sam & Dave.

On a Sunday, Isaac Hayes the Third, the renowned Grammy and Oscar-winning artist’s son, shared on social media that his family had taken legal action due to the Trump campaign playing their Sam & Dave hit at its rallies from 2022 until now.

“The family of Isaac Hayes, under representation by Walker & Associates, has filed a lawsuit against Donald Trump and his campaign for using the song ‘Hold On, I’m Coming’ without permission in 134 instances at their rallies between the years 2022 and 2024. This information was shared on platform X by the official Isaac Hayes account and signed by The Hayes Family.”

As an ardent supporter, I’ve made my stance clear: “I insist on the immediate halt of utilization, the deletion of all relevant content, a public announcement, and a $3 million licensing fee payment by August 16, 2024. If these conditions aren’t met, I’m prepared to take additional legal measures.”

On a Sunday post on my Instagram, I, Isaac Hayes III, laid out clear reasons for wanting to disconnect my father’s work from the Trump campaign. Here’s why: Donald Trump embodies a lack of integrity and refinement, not just by using my dad’s music without permission but also through his history of abusing women sexually and spreading racist remarks. This kind of behavior is unacceptable to me, and I won’t sit idly by. We’re taking decisive action to put a stop to it immediately.

He added, “We stand in solidarity with all musicians whose work has been co-opted without consent by divisive political campaigns. A musical performers art is a reflection of their soul, not a tool for promoting hatred or bigotry. It’s time for all artists to unite and demand respect for their creative legacies.”

Together with his writing companion David Porter, Hayes created the hit single “Hold On, I’m Coming.” Originally recorded by Sam & Dave in 1966, this song peaked at number one on the Billboard Rhythm and Blues charts and earned a gold certification.

At Trump’s rallies, the song is frequently played both before and following his campaign speeches. It also held a significant role during the 2024 Republican National Convention, where a band performed it after Trump concluded his extended, winding 90-minute address.

The ongoing Hayes family lawsuit is merely another instance in the series of legal disputes between musicians and the Trump campaign. Notably, artists such as The Beatles, Adele, Aerosmith, Bruce Springsteen, Elton John, and Earth, Wind & Fire have criticized Trump and his team for utilizing their music at political events. In fact, the list of musicians who have publicly asked the Trump campaign to cease using their compositions is so extensive that it has its own Wikipedia page dedicated to this issue.

As a lifelong fan of Celine Dion, I was quite taken aback when I heard that her iconic hit “My Heart Will Go On” was used at a political rally for Donald Trump. Having grown up listening to Celine and watching her rise to fame, it feels disheartening to see her music being exploited in this way. The song is so deeply connected with the movie Titanic, which holds a special place in my heart as well, and I can’t help but feel that its use at a political event tarnishes its meaning for me. I find it hard to believe that Celine Dion would ever endorse such a controversial figure like Donald Trump, especially considering her humanitarian work and strong stance on social issues. It’s disappointing when an artist’s music is used without their consent or endorsement, and I can only hope that this was just a misunderstanding and not something more deliberate.

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2024-08-12 11:54