what's in a name?
In a sort of a twist on the proverbial "busman's holiday", I often find myself reading about the legal troubles of famous folk. Willie Nelson's troubles with the IRS. Britney Spears' conservatorship after she had major meltdown. John Fogerty being sued for copyright infringement -- of a John Fogerty. song. Frankie Lymon and his three wives. The wrongful death suit against Michael Jackson's doctor/drug dealer.
But one of the weirdest cases involves Jay Black. Black (born David Blatt) was the second, and more famous "Jay" of Jay and the Americans. When Jay Traynor, the original lead, left the group in 1962, Black was recruited to take his place. When the group disbanded in 1973, Black continued to tour as "Jay and the Americans" or "Jay Black and the Americans".
Black filed for bankruptcy in 2006. He had accumulated considerable debt as a result of his gambling addiction, and owed the IRS over $500,000 in back taxes. And the IRS insisted that Black sell off his assets to pay the debt.
The IRS wanted to sell the rights to the name "Jay and the Americans", as the names of old groups can be extremely lucrative on the touring circuit (and are often the subject of argument and even legal battles --- Felix Cavaliere tours as "Felix Cavaliere's Rascals" unless Eddie Brigati is with him, for example. And in 2009 Jay Siegel and Phil and Mitch Margo were battling in court over the name "The Tokens".)
But what made the case interesting...the IRS wanted to sell the name "Jay Black".
Sell a man's identity? Really?
I mean, Prince famously changed his name to a symbol and billed himself as "the artist formerly known as Prince" to protest the terms of his contract with Warner Brothers, But no on ever suggested he "sell" the name Prince....or that someone else should perform using that name...
But can you really see anyone else performing as "Jay Black"? I mean, that voice is unique...
And if you strip a man of his identity, how can he go on?
Well, the IRS was successful in selling the group name. Some of the original members of the group purchased the name, hired a new "Jay" and began touring. Drew and I saw Jay and the Americans, with Jay #3, in 2011. Interestingly, Jay Traynor was also performing that night; at the time, he was touring with Jay Siegel's Tokens.
But Jay Black got to keep his name. He's still performing at age 80; he's got some dates scheduled for February 2020 in Las Vegas.
It's been a few years since he came to Long Island, so I may have missed my chance to see him live...
But here he is, from a PBS special in 2011:
But one of the weirdest cases involves Jay Black. Black (born David Blatt) was the second, and more famous "Jay" of Jay and the Americans. When Jay Traynor, the original lead, left the group in 1962, Black was recruited to take his place. When the group disbanded in 1973, Black continued to tour as "Jay and the Americans" or "Jay Black and the Americans".
Black filed for bankruptcy in 2006. He had accumulated considerable debt as a result of his gambling addiction, and owed the IRS over $500,000 in back taxes. And the IRS insisted that Black sell off his assets to pay the debt.
The IRS wanted to sell the rights to the name "Jay and the Americans", as the names of old groups can be extremely lucrative on the touring circuit (and are often the subject of argument and even legal battles --- Felix Cavaliere tours as "Felix Cavaliere's Rascals" unless Eddie Brigati is with him, for example. And in 2009 Jay Siegel and Phil and Mitch Margo were battling in court over the name "The Tokens".)
But what made the case interesting...the IRS wanted to sell the name "Jay Black".
Sell a man's identity? Really?
I mean, Prince famously changed his name to a symbol and billed himself as "the artist formerly known as Prince" to protest the terms of his contract with Warner Brothers, But no on ever suggested he "sell" the name Prince....or that someone else should perform using that name...
But can you really see anyone else performing as "Jay Black"? I mean, that voice is unique...
And if you strip a man of his identity, how can he go on?
Well, the IRS was successful in selling the group name. Some of the original members of the group purchased the name, hired a new "Jay" and began touring. Drew and I saw Jay and the Americans, with Jay #3, in 2011. Interestingly, Jay Traynor was also performing that night; at the time, he was touring with Jay Siegel's Tokens.
But Jay Black got to keep his name. He's still performing at age 80; he's got some dates scheduled for February 2020 in Las Vegas.
It's been a few years since he came to Long Island, so I may have missed my chance to see him live...
But here he is, from a PBS special in 2011:
I have to wonder if they will auction on ebay. I know on our county court house steps those who are behind three years or more on there property taxes are auction off.
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That is bizarre. I've never heard of any of those bands, so the name is of limited appeal. Only those who have heard of them would find any value in the names.
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