The late Clement 'Sir Coxsone' Dodd. - File

A ruling in a revocation suit brought by the son of legendary music producer Clement 'Coxsone' Dodd against Dodd's wife and sister, could be made later this month in the Supreme Court.

On November 27, Justice Bertram Morrison will hear final submissions from lawyers representing the claimant Clement Dodd Jr, and defendants Norma Dodd and Carol Dodd. The former is represented by attorney Huntley Watson, while Heron Dale and Norman Wright are appearing for Norma and Carol Dodd, administrators of the will.

Dodd Jr filed the suit in the Supreme Court in 2006, claiming his name was wrongfully removed from his father's will which was made in December 1987.

No royalties

That prevents him from earning royalties from Jamrec, the publishing company of Dodd senior's Studio One label.

Dodd Jr's stepmother and sister contend that his name was intentionally removed by his father who died in 2004. Last Wednesday, the parties made their third court appearance in the Supreme Court, downtown Kingston.

The original copy of the will has been shown in court by Patricia Holness, chief executive officer of the Registrar General's Department. A copy of the will kept in the registry of the Supreme Court was also submitted and compared to the original.

The will was probated in the Supreme Court in 2005.

Norma and Carol Dodd oversee the Studio One catalogue, a massive collection that has titles going back to the late 1950s. Clement Dodd Sr started the label in 1963, recording countless artistes including the Wailers, Alton Ellis, Bob Andy, Delroy Wilson, Burning Spear, The Heptones, Marcia Griffiths, Dennis Brown, Sugar Minott and Freddie McGregor.

The Studio One catalogue got renewed exposure throughout the 1990s through a distribution deal Dodd senior signed with American independent company, Heartbeat Records. It gave the Cambridge, Massachusetts label exclusive rights to release Studio One albums, mainly in the United States and Europe.

Bitter battles

While Clement 'Coxsone' Dodd is regarded by many musicians as Jamaica's greatest producer, he had bitter battles with artistes over royalties.

Some performers, including Andy, successfully sued him.

On May 5, 2004, the 72 year-old Dodd suffered a heart attack at Studio One and was pronounced dead at hospital. In 2007, he was posthumously awarded the Order of Distinction by the government for his contribution to the development of Jamaican music.