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Monday, March 18, 2024 | Back issues
Courthouse News Service Courthouse News Service

Writer Says Charlie Pride Owes on Movie Deal

(CN) - A man who helped Charley Pride write his autobiography claims the country singer and former Negro League baseball player sold his story to Paramount Pictures without paying him his share of film rights for the book. Jim Henderson demands more than $50,000 from Pride, in Dallas County Court.

Henderson says he and Pride co-wrote the book "Pride - the Charley Pride Story." Henderson claims that Price recently entered into an option agreement with Paramount "concerning the sale and use of his 'life story.'" Henderson also believes that "Pride may be selling books and other products in which Henderson has a legal interest."

Henderson claims "that although he deposed Pride to obtain the details about the option agreement or contract with Paramount Pictures, or other persons or legal entities, Pride said that other persons in his employ knew all of the details about these transactions. Thus, it is still unknown to Henderson at this time exactly what Pride has done and how much revenue has been produced as a result of the option agreement and the sale of books and other products in which Henderson may have an interest."

Henderson demands at least $50,000, alleging breach of contract.

Pride grew up with 10 siblings in a sharecropper family and practiced guitar and singing during his first career in the 1950s as a baseball player for the Negro American League's Memphis Red Sox. He played his music in the bus as the team traveled from game to game, before signing a deal with RCA Records.

He went on to record more than 36 No. 1 country singles. He was the first, and perhaps is still the only, black country-music superstar.

Henderson is represented by John Collins with Burleson, Pate & Gibson of Dallas.

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