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Case file s1745 · Music and sport · 2020
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2020
Little Richard: Little Richard performing at the University of Texas Forty Acres Festival in 2007.
Little Richard. Anna Bleker. Public domain, Wikimedia Commons.
Died
9 May 2020
Place
Tullahoma, Tennessee · United States
Field
rock and roll · Music on the timeline
Legal tradition
US common law (Tennessee) · Common law
Historical event
The birth of rock and roll
Religion
Little Richard: Other, Other Christian, Protestant and Anglican (recorded as African-American Christians, Converts to Adventism, LGBTQ Protestants on Wikipedia)
Music and sportBrothers and sisters in courtNowNorth AmericaUnited States

Little Richard's brother emailed the buyer about elder abuse and racism, the buyer withdrew its offer for the estate's rights, and the court took away his share

Richard Wayne Penniman died at 87. His will left his royalty rights to nine beneficiaries, including his brother Peyton Penniman and sister Freka Merrell, and named Peyton, Freka and his longtime lawyer William Sobel co-personal representatives. A "Special Provision for Rights to Publicity" barred distribution until a majority of the nine agreed on a plan, and said a beneficiary who blocked the plan would lose his share. Primary Wave Entertainment offered to buy the intellectual property and publicity rights. Five of nine voted to accept. Peyton thought the rights were worth more. After a second offer he emailed Sobel, the beneficiaries, their lawyer and at least one Primary Wave employee, raising elder abuse and racism and threatening to go public. The next day Primary Wave withdrew, saying it did not want to be part of a family dispute. No comparable offer followed. The Davidson County Circuit Court removed Peyton as co-personal representative for breach of fiduciary duty, declared he forfeited his publicity rights share, and ordered him to pay the majority's legal fees. On 6 September 2024 the Tennessee Court of Appeals affirmed in In re Estate of Richard Wayne Penniman, No. M2023-00075-COA-R3-CV, and awarded appeal fees. In 2026 no further appeal or sale was found†.

What the law took from it

A will can make a beneficiary's share depend on not blocking the majority, and a court will enforce it.

Sources
  1. tncourts.govCourt record
  2. attorney.elderlawanswers.comPress
  3. loeb.comPress

Cite as: celebrity.estate, “Little Richard's brother emailed the buyer about elder abuse and racism, the buyer withdrew its offer for the estate's rights, and the court took away his share,” story s1745, https://www.celebrity.estate/little-richard-2020, updated 30 October 2026.

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Where this case sits

Music and sportBrothers and sisters in courtNowNorth AmericaCommon lawUnited States