The battle of royalties continues for Motown legend Smokey Robinson and ex-wife Claudette Robinson. Although the couple divorced nearly 30 years ago, Claudette, 71, says she is still entitled to 50% of the cut from all her ex husband’s music created between 1958 and 1985. He’s best known for hits including, “My Girl,” “Tears of a Clown,” “You’ve Really Got a Hold on Me,” “I Second That Emotion,” “Get Ready” and “The Way You Do the Things You Do.”
The Motown singer and songwriter divorced Claudette after 27 years of marriage. In March, Smokey filed a lawsuit against his former flame citing the 1976 Copyright Act, saying she no longer owns the music copyright and royalty rights she was awarded in their 1986 divorce settlement.
The act mandates that copyrights expire 28 years after they were originally created. Robinson asserts he solely owns these songs because he is the composer. Claudette is demanding a trial by jury.
Smokey, 74, married his second wife, fashion designer Frances Glandney in 2004.