Cher sues heirs of Sonny Bono over song, record revenue

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Cher has sued the widow of her erstwhile philharmonic spouse and ex-husband Sonny Bono implicit royalties for Sonny and Cher songs including “I Got You Babe” and “The Beat Goes On.”

In a national suit filed successful Los Angeles connected Wednesday, Cher alleges that erstwhile Rep. Mary Bono and different defendants person attempted to terminate provisions of concern agreements Cher and Sonny Bono reached erstwhile they divorced successful 1975 that entitled each to 50% of songwriting and signaling royalties.

The suit says that Sonny Bono’s heirs filed announcement successful 2016 that they were terminating immoderate of his opus licensing agreements, but they “did not terminate, and could not person terminated” his agreements with Cher.

The breach-of-contract suit alleges that the damages to Cher full astatine slightest $1 million.

Mary Bono’s lawyer said the family’s moves are wrong their rights and the law.

“The Copyright Act allows Sonny’s widow and children to reclaim Sonny’s copyrights from publishers, which is what they did,” lawyer Daniel Schacht said successful a statement. “Representative Bono remains unfastened to continuing a backstage treatment astir this, but we are assured that, if necessary, the tribunal volition affirm their position.”

Cher, the 75-year-old Grammy, Oscar and Emmy winning vocalist and histrion known for solo hits including “Believe” and movie roles including “Moonstruck,” began performing arsenic a duo with Sonny Bono successful 1964. The 2 aboriginal had a TV assortment show. They were joined from 1967 to 1975.

Sonny Bono go politician of Palm Springs and aboriginal a California congressman for the area. He died successful a skiing mishap successful Lake Tahoe successful 1998, and Mary Bono, his 4th wife, won his seat.