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Bukka White

I am the daughter of singer Bukka White ,I am sixty five.Led Zeppelin recorded two Bukka White songs.fix'in to die and shake'em on down.

I have for years made efforts to get royalty that Bukka White music is entitled.My dad died a broken man because of the treatment he received by the industry.

I own a Bukka White Catalogue(11) songs but do not know how to market them as of yet.

My mom,Emma White, Bukka White third wife passed away Sept.29,09. Her brother died five days prior.I alone paid for the funeral and burial,and I am now broke.

I must believe that one day Mr Palmer will pay the Bukka White Royalty.My dad liked him a lot.

I research everyday and as a result,there are several small Bukka White accounts.

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Adam Sheets on December 27, 2009 at 3:55pm

Don't know how I can help you, but I do hope that someday you and your family are able to collect the royalties.

However, I do want to say that Bukka White is, along with Son House, one of the greatest blues artists I have ever heard.

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Permalink Reply by irene kertchaval on December 27, 2009 at 5:00pm

I understand,but by all means remember me if you come up on a situation you might find useful to me.

You can go to Google and add my name,there you can see Bukka White material.I am sixty five and I work daily for Royalty that we are entitled.

Kind Regards,Irene Kertchaval

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Permalink Reply by Tom Jennings on December 28, 2009 at 1:52am

Well, there is precedent: Willie Dixon won a suit against Led Zeppelin for the lyrics of Whole Lotta Love (actually, it may have been settled out of court iirc). Zeppelin (actually Plant) did indeed "borrow" (steal) from a great number of blues artists without giving them a writing credit. In fact, probably around 50% (or more?) of their catalogue is sourced from somewhere, I think there is a joke on The Simpsons about it- Page/Plant's borrowing is as legendary as their partying.

Hats off to (Roy) Harper is the song i assume you are talking about when you reference 'Shake 'em on Down', and while it isn't a complete steal (more like a melange of blues number), it is surely obviously a steal. The one thing I would point out though is that on Led Zeppelin III it is credited to "Traditional (arr. Jim Obscure)" (or something to that effect), so they at least haven't taken a songwriting credit on that.

Fixin to Die isn't a song I know well, but wiki tells me that it was recorded by Zeppelin in a Whole Lotta Love medley, there is precedent for posthumous accreditation on a live album too, a few years back Zep released How the West Was Won (which is great btw) which includes a medley of various 50's songs (I think there is a Ricky Nelson song in there) and those are credited, there shouldn't be too much trouble getting the "BBC sessions" songwriting credit, Plant in particular has appeared reticent and apologetic about his borrowing past.

Also, it is Robert Plant and not Palmer, my mum always used to mix those up.

If you can't proceed any further, I live about 2 miles from Jimmy Page and *may* be able to get you in contact with him.

Hope this helps

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Permalink Reply by irene kertchaval on December 28, 2009 at 11:55am

Mr Jennings I feel after reading your comments ,that I indeed remain hopeful.I would be ever so greatful for the Jimmy Page contact.Sept.29,09 my mom passed (Bukka White Third wife) five days prior her brother died.I alone paid for funeral and burial,obits,and everything else connected.I am now with out any funds.I am more sensitive now about how my dad was treated and now myself in trying to get royalty that we are entitled.My dream is that a very famous entertainer will buy my Bukka White(11) Catalogue.We loved to listen to dad talk about how he appreciated Led Zeppelin and others in the U.K. he thought Led would pay him Royalty,and was sad when they did not.It is my mission not to give up.I have tried reaching Robert Plant for years,with out success.

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Permalink Reply by irene kertchaval on December 29, 2009 at 6:26pm

Irene Kertchaval(Bukka White Music)I would appreciate your contact with Jimmy Page,I can make available any and all documents requested.

Reaching out to you can be most helpful I am sure.You can reach me at anytime.I would prefer to communicate with you through my email address.

Thanks,Irene kertchaval(daughter)

Hm.615-264-2596 Cell-615-973-7257 email renebukkawhite@comcast.net

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Permalink Reply by J. Hayes - music writer on December 28, 2009 at 9:02am

Ms.Kertchaval,

I have tremendous respect for your father's work and will do my best to pass on the word. It's important that folks continue to hear about these stories. They are far from a thing of the past. The Rhythm and Blues Foundation may be a good source of support as well.

I will send you a direct message with some further thoughts.

Best Regards,
J. Hayes

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Permalink Reply by irene kertchaval on December 28, 2009 at 12:17pm

I will contact the site you gave me.I get sad when I think about about the lack of sensitivity in the Music Industry .Everyday since 1996 I continue to research for Royalty owed Bukka White,My dad.Although I was able to acquire (11) songs in the catalogue.However I do not know how to market them.At google(Irene Kertchaval) find additional bukka white material.I have put together a very thick Bukka White Book and would love to interest a writer in looking at it for a future article.I am sixty five and determine.

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Permalink Reply by J. Hayes - music writer on December 29, 2009 at 6:35am

Ms. Kertchaval,

Please email me and we can correspond. I have some individuals I would like to connect you with. From some high profile artists who may be interested in lending their voice to this cause to both legal and record label contacts who may be able to aide in the process.

There are several reasons this may be a great time to begin pursuing this matter in more earnest.

My email is hayesmusic@verizon.net. If you email me I can give you my cell too and we can communicate whatever way is easier.

Regards,
J. Hayes

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Permalink Reply by irene kertchaval on December 30, 2009 at 10:13am

My email to you has kicked out.I entered hayesmusic@verizon.net is this correct?

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Permalink Reply by irene kertchaval on December 31, 2009 at 9:57am

I previously provided you my email address.Your email show a malfunction,email me and I will copy.what I now have is hayesmusic@verizon.net

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Permalink Reply by Joe Gorfinkle on December 28, 2009 at 4:38pm

I am a big fan of Bukka's and have written a short bio of him on my website(not for profit, but for the love of his music)
http://www.slidingdelta.com/bluesmen/bukkawhite2.html , as he is one of the players whose music meant a lot to me. More in-depth information about him is needed to fill in the story of a man who had a major role in the History of American Music. As far as royalties, you need to:
a) be sure you have valid copyrights on each of the tunes
b) enter into a relationship with or create a publishing company
If someone has violated your copyrights, you can seek legal remedies against them. I am no copyright lawyer, and you should probably want to contact one before proceeding.
Hope this helps and you can get him the recognition he deserves.

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Permalink Reply by irene kertchaval on December 28, 2009 at 5:43pm

Joe I appreciate your love of Bukka White Music.I have had to make corrections to several story's on my dad.My name is Irene Kertchaval.Google my name and you can read a speech I gave Oct.16,09 in Houston,Ms. and Aberdeen,Ms. both honored my dad with a Blues Marker.The correct birth year for my dad is 1905.I have a large book that I put together on Bukka White.I own a publishing company (Bukka White Music) I own a Bukka White Catalogue(11)songs.Bukka White died a broken man.He was an intelligent man but not savy enough to protect himself from those in the Music Industry who stole his music through out his career.I will always fight to right this wrong.