Muddy Waters' heirs spent 35 years fighting his manager over his copyrights

Muddy Waters, born McKinley Morganfield, died in his sleep at 70 and was buried at Restvale Cemetery in Alsip, Illinois, next to his wife, Geneva. The Rolling Stones took their name from his song "Rollin' Stone"^†. The estate's main assets were the copyrights to his songs, including "Hoochie Coochie Man" and "Mannish Boy." His manager at the time, Scott Cameron, took charge of the estate, and a court fight with his heirs followed that lasted decades. In 2010 the heirs petitioned to reopen the estate and appoint his daughter, Mercy Morganfield, as administrator. The petition succeeded. The dispute was still in court in 2015, according to the Chicago Tribune. After Cameron died, the heirs' lawyers asked in May 2018 to hold his widow in contempt, alleging she had diverted royalty income. They later withdrew the request. The last court date was 10 July 2018. As of 2023 the arrangement the heirs had disputed was unchanged, according to Grunge.