SHARON, PA. Musical artists testify to back 'Truth in Music' bill

Members of original musical groups are being ripped off by bogus groups.
By HAROLD GWIN
VINDICATOR SHARON BUREAU
SHARON, Pa. -- Mary Wilson said she has spent millions of dollars "to regain the ownership of what I know is morally mine."
Wilson, 59, one of the founding members of The Supremes vocal group, said it has been a lifelong struggle to secure ownership of that name and to fight the knock-off groups that bill themselves as The Supremes.
Wilson was one of a long line of musical artists and others who testified Thursday at a state Senate hearing at the Vocal Group Hall of Fame on a proposed "Truth in Music" bill.
The legislation, introduced by Sen. Robert Robbins of Greenville, R-50th, would make it illegal and impose fines for charging admission to a musical show without first announcing whether the groups performing contain original members of that group or are part of a tribute group.
The Senate Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure Committee is reviewing the bill now. Chairman Sen. Robert Tomlinson, R-6th, and Sen. Mary Jo White, R-21, joined Robbins in hosting the hearing during the Vocal Group Hall of Fame's induction week activities.
It gave them a chance to hear directly from original members of 1950s, 1960s and 1970s musical groups who are fighting the same battle fought by Wilson.
An example
"Just recently we, the Supremes, were given a lifetime achievement award by an oldies radio station in Germany. However, it was not given to me or Diana Ross. It was given to a tribute group. Yes, they received a Lifetime Achievement Award that should have gone to Diana, myself and the estate of Florence Ballard," Wilson said.
"Personally, I have spent millions of dollars, in fact, my life savings have been spent, chasing these fake groups through the legal system," she said, urging that the legislation be made law.
Joe Vincent, executive vice president of Joe Vincent Entertainment Group of Hesperia, Calif., said his organization has been able to identify 120 bogus Platters groups, one of which has three white members, 73 bogus Drifters groups, 23 bogus Coasters groups and five bogus Crests groups.
"We are here today seeking to protect the history, the legacy and the sound, such as harmony, that each of these original members created," said Pat Benti, executive director of Friends Against Musical Exploitation of Artists.
Benti recounted the story of a group calling themselves The Platters slated to perform at a show near Boston in August 2000.
A court ruled that Herb Reed, an original member of the group, was the only one who had a right to perform under that group name.
The Platters at the concert suddenly became The Coasters and performed under that name instead, Benti said.
Legal loopholes allow bogus groups to steal the name, said Maxine Porter of Las Vegas, manager of Bill Pinkney's Original Drifters.
"There are so many Drifters groups performing throughout the country that I collectively reference them as Drifters de jour," she said. "These impostors bask in reflected glory."
Pinkney, who joined Porter at the witness table, said when bogus Drifters groups perform, they are frequently asked, "Where's Bill?"
The replies range from " He died" to "He's no longer with us," said Pinkney, 78, who formed the group in 1953.
Pinkney is very much still with the original group and performed during the hall of fame's induction concert.