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Composer Files Lawsuit Over Jersey Boys Royalties
By Andrew Gans
04 Aug 2008
A lawsuit has been filed over the use of the song "C'mon Marianne" in Tony-winning musical Jersey Boys, which continues to play to sell-out crowds at the August Wilson Theatre.
"C'mon Marianne," which is performed in Jersey Boys' second act, was penned by L. Russell Brown and the late Raymond Bloodworth. Brown and Bloodworth's daughter, Marie Shelton, have filed a suit against EMI, according to the Associated Press.
The $100,000 lawsuit claims that EMI has failed to pay Brown and Shelton royalties for the use of the song, which was recorded by Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. Saturday Music, which was eventually acquired by EMI, had originally published the song in 1967.
Jersey Boys premiered at the La Jolla Playhouse in October 2004 before arriving in November 2005 at Broadway's August Wilson Theatre. The Broadway production garnered four Tony Awards: for stars John Lloyd Young and Christian Hoff, lighting designer Howell Binkley and for Best Musical.
Jersey Boys, according to press notes, is "the story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons: Frankie Valli, Bob Gaudio, Tommy DeVito and Nick Massi . . . a group of blue-collar boys from the wrong side of the tracks who became one of the biggest American pop music sensations of all time. They wrote their own songs, invented their own sounds and sold 175 million records worldwide - all before they were 30."
The award-winning production features music by Bob Gaudio, lyrics by Bob Crewe and a book by Marshall Brickman & Rick Elice. Des McAnuff directed.
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