Family of Isaac Hayes sues Trump campaign over use of “Wait, I’m Coming”

The family of Isaac Hayes claims they are suing Donald Trump and his campaign team for the continued unauthorized use of Sam & Dave’s hit “Hold On, I’m Coming,” which the late soul icon co-wrote.

On Sunday, Isaac Hayes III, the Grammy and Oscar winner’s son, posted on social media that the family had filed a lawsuit because the Trump campaign used the hit song “Sam & Dave” at its rallies from 2022 through this year.

“We, the family of @_isaachayes Isaac Hayes Enterprises, represented by Walker & Associates, are suing Donald Trump and his campaign for 134 counts of copyright infringement for the unauthorized use of the song ‘Hold On, I’m Coming’ at campaign rallies from 2022 to 2024,” Isaac Hayes’ official account on X posted in a post signed by the Hayes family.

The post continues: “We demand a cessation of use, removal of all associated videos, a public disclaimer, and payment of $3 million in royalties by August 16, 2024. Failure to comply will result in further legal action.”

On his own Instagram account on Sunday, Isaac Hayes III explained even more clearly his reasons for attempting to distance his father’s work from the Trump campaign. “Donald Trump embodies a lack of integrity and class, not only through his continued use of my father’s music without permission, but also through his history of sexually abusing women and his racist rhetoric. This behavior will no longer be tolerated and we will take swift action to put an end to it,” Isaac Hayes III wrote.

He added: “We stand in solidarity with all musicians whose work has been co-opted into divisive political campaigns without their consent. A musician’s art is a reflection of their soul, not a means of inciting hatred or bigotry. It is time for all artists to unite and demand respect for their creative legacy.”

Hayes co-wrote “Hold On, I’m Coming” with his songwriting partner David Porter. The song, first released by Sam & Dave in 1996, reached No. 1 on the Billboard R&B charts and achieved gold status.

The song has become a staple at Trump’s rallies, often played before and after the former president’s campaign speeches. It was also featured prominently at the 2024 Republican National Convention, when a band played the song after Trump finished his long and meandering 90-minute speech.

The Hayes family’s lawsuit is just the latest legal battle between musicians and the Trump campaign. Artists including The Beatles, Adele, Aerosmith, Bruce Springsteen, Elton John and Earth, Wind & Fire have all sharply criticized Trump and his team for using their music at political events. In fact, the list of musicians who have publicly demanded that the Trump campaign stop using their music is so long that it has its own Wikipedia entry.

On Saturday, Céline Dion’s management team released a statement on behalf of the artist and her record label Sony regarding the use of Titanic hit “My Heart Will Go On” at a rally in Montana on Friday. “This use is in no way authorized, and Céline Dion does not endorse this or any similar use… And really, THIS song?” the statement said.