The Five HeartBeats

     Ever wonder what happen to Eddie King Jr?  Five years after reunited with the original members of the Five Heartbeats; he resurrects his singer career as a gospel singer.  With the help of Duck Matthews, they wrote and produced two successful Gospel Albums entitled "For the Love of Jesus & Here I Come Lord."  Both albums went double platinum and earned both Matthews and King Jr Grammy's.  After touring for five years, he decided to retire for good....He finally received the fame and fortune he sought after with the Five Heartbeats but was denied due to personal reasons....He now runs Paid In Full records along with his wife Baby Doll.  He gives advice to his son Eddie King III, who is aspiring to be a HIP HOP artist and goes by the name EKIII and currently managed by Donald “Duck” Matthews.

     I think you all remember Anthony Stone AKA “Choir Boy”. In 1996, Choir Boy becomes the pastor of his father's church after his father passes away. In 2006, he releases his first and only book “Seize The Time with Jesus.” The book becomes a best seller and stays number one for 18 weeks. As a result, he is a very popular lecturer and preacher visiting churches in the United States and other countries.

     

     After being convicted of the murder of Jimmy Potter in 1966, Big Red Davis sells the Five Heartbeats and many other artist catalogue on his lable to Epic Records which netted him a cool $15 million.  After serving 20 years in prison for murder, he is released and now comes out to a bank account of $75 million due to smart investments while inside the joint.  Meanwhile, Duck Matthews learns of the money Big Red has accumulated over the years and convinces the other members to file a class action law suit again Big Red and Epic records to collect the royalties they were never paid.  Duck Matthews lived off the royalties he received from writing all the Heartbeats songs; he copyrighted all of his songs he wrote even though the masters were own by Big Red and then sold to Epic Records.  Initially, Choir Boy did not want to be part of the lawsuit because he had already established himself as very popular preacher.  But with much prodding from Matthews, Choir Boy enters the lawsuit realizing he should be paid as a founding member of the Heartbeats.  Since Epic Records had used the Five Heartbeats songs in movie soundtracks, commercials, and R&B and hip hop artist sampled their songs, Epic records made $200 million.  The Five HeartBeats sued Epic Records for $200 million and won.  After legal fees and court cost, each of the five members walk away $20 million each.